Storms, Earthquakes, and the Like Are Increasing in Frequency and Destructiveness — Is There a Meaning in It? — The Cheering Rays of Hope and Comfort
By J. O. CORLISS
DESTRUCTION upon destruction is cried," are the startling words of one who, in prophetic vision, was permitted to scan the future of earth's history. The expression employed was the outburst of a sadly pained heart, the tumult of which refused to be quieted. Its sound was as a voice in the prophet's soul, which must, perforce, find utterance through the lips of the inspired seer. So terribly real and complete seemed the breaking up of things earthly, and so continuous were the applied agencies in effecting the end portrayed, that the single word "destruction" could not adequately describe the prophetic view, which could only be told by saying that one calamity after another would attend earth's record until the whole work of destruction would be complete. Jer. 4: 19, 20.
PREDICTION RESERVED FOR TO-DAY
The fact that earth's history continues until now is evidence that the eventual fulfilment of this prediction has been reserved to our day. Besides, during the Saviour's earthly sojourn, He spoke of startling changes nature would unfold just prior to His second advent to earth. Among these were to be violent volcanic disturbances, unusual agitation of ocean's waves, resulting in unavoidable wreckage and general ruin. Luke 21: 11, 25, 26. The seer of Patmos declares that the last of these earthquakes will exceed in vehemence anything of the kind before known (Rev. 16: 18), thus indicating just what the world is now experiencing — that the violence of these will steadily increase till the end.
A CONDITION AND A PREDICTION
It is also certain that ocean surges have never been known so uniformly destructive as now, defying as they do both the art and the skill of man in the attempt to guard against their encroachments. The continued reference to this phase in the daily news columns, makes unnecessary an enlargement upon this point in detail. There is, however, another section of this subject to which98prophecy lends attention, but which may perhaps have been overlooked by some. It is that of destruction by sudden inundations, which remove time-honored landmarks, and make homeless the landholders. Referring to these, the prophet says: "The Lord God of hosts is He that toucheth the land. . . . It shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. It is He . . . that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth." Amos 9: 5, 6.
A NEW EXPERIENCE — THREE CLOUDBURSTS
The writer had read of devastating floods in Europe and the far East, especially China, also in various parts of the United States, and had noted the increasing frequency of their occurrence, as well as the aggravated intensity of their action. But until very recently he had not actually been a witness of their destructive tendencies. However, this experience was not always to be denied him. Leaving Los Angeles the evening of January 24, he was overtaken at Santa Barbara by no less than three cloudbursts, which quickly inundated the lower part of the city, putting business houses in that vicinity out of commission, and making it next to impossible to move about in that quarter of the town. Bridges of every description were washed away, prohibiting both railroad and other modes of travel. No strong wind was noticeable, yet the ocean surf, as though not to be outdone in carrying destruction before it, began pounding violently upon the strong protecting wall lining the beach, breaking it down, and tearing up the beautiful palm-lined boulevard that hitherto had gracefully dignified the shore-line.
The first appearance of anything unusual to which attention was specially called, was that of a huge, inky cloud just above the mountain range back of the town, which resembled those of tornado-menace in the East. In almost shorter time than is taken to tell the story, a perfect deluge was falling from the heavily saturated cloud, which threw down telephone wires, and brought on a general chaotic condition.
MOUNTAIN CREEKS BECOME RIVERS
With other cloud ruptures quickly following, the mountain creeks were suddenly converted into torrential rivers, which tore away their retaining borders, where grew beautiful sycamore and oak trees, and carried everything before them, thus changing the very face of parts of the back country. It was indeed pitiful, after the subsidence of the flood, to witness the desolation of homes. There were dwellings which, in collision with each other, had almost entirely collapsed. One plumbing shop had been thrown crossways in the middle of the street, while some private houses were left partly projected over yawning caverns that the devouring waters had ruthlessly scooped out.
A CHEERING MESSAGE OF CONFIDENCE
One short article can not possibly describe the situation. It must be viewed at first hand to get an adequate idea of it. In fact, to dwell at length upon this particular incident may not be best, since similar ones are becoming quite frequent nowadays. This one is referred to here merely to call attention to the significance of these general happenings in every part of the world.
Indeed, one must, if true to duty's call, make note of such occurrences, in order to direct attention to the fulfilment of prophetic warnings of the day of the Lord at hand. They are not and should not be dwelt upon simply to inspire terror, but to bring a cheering message of confidence in God's word, and create a desire in all hearts to be ready for the great consummation which is to give eternal joy to all who become participants in it. "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matt. 24: 44.
