The destructive savagery of Hurricane Ian across the state of Florida and beyond is reminding us yet again of the multiplying portents of Jesus’ soon coming. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was quoted Thursday, September 29, as saying the southern part of his state was being hit by a “Biblical storm surge” [1].

Most of us have seen the images of the devastated neighborhoods, broken causeways, boats ripped from anchorage and dragged across the land, roofs ripped off homes and hospitals, and most of all the heartsick and homeless residents. President Biden warned that this disaster could result in “substantial loss of life” and could end up being the deadliest storm in Florida history [2]. Some are calling it a record-breaking “1,000 year” event [3].

Multiplying Signs

Our hearts and prayers go out to all presently suffering from this terrible tragedy, as well as those still likely to suffer from the storm’s ongoing fury. But the fact that others are describing this event as “Biblical” cannot help but remind observant Seventh-day Adventists of the significance of such disasters, in particular the words of our Lord when He spoke of His soon coming with such words as “distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25).

When we hear reports of people refusing to heed evacuation warnings in situations like these, we can’t help but recall those in the days of Noah and Lot, who ignored similar warnings and were destroyed as a result (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-29). One couldn’t help thinking of Lot’s wife as rescuers from the Cajun Navy heard a man on Sanibel Island call for help, then came to rescue him, only to hear his wife say, “I’m not ready to go” [4]—despite the collapse of the bridge to the mainland and the obvious perils of staying behind. The Savor’s warning, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32) came quickly to mind.

The human tendency to think such calamities just “couldn’t happen to me” seems a recurrent folly in the history of our world—one that will find its ultimate fulfillment in the untold millions who will turn aside God’s last message in the closing moments of time.

Ellen White makes the following predictions regarding natural and other disasters multiplying as the coming of Jesus draws near:

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 The Spirit of God is being withdrawn.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 [##5|Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 277.##].

While God may indeed use such horrors to stir the hearts of those open to His wooing, the inspired pen tells us that as the final events approach, Satan will be the primary cause of such developments:

Even now he (Satan) is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast [##6|——The Great Controversy, pp. 589-590.##].

In another statement we read:

The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause [##7|——Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 408.##].

Some may wonder if statements like the above disallow such forces as man-made climate change as explanations for the increase in weather-related disasters. But the involvement of human greed and exploitation of nature at the root of such tragedies makes these events as much as sign of Jesus’ soon coming as the wickedness of the world in general. This is why the book of Revelation speaks of how in the end God will “destroy them which destroy the earth” (Rev. 11:18). The fact that science has demonstrated how human-induced climate change is wreaking havoc in nature simply proves humanity’s failure to care for God’s creation, which denotes yet another departure on the part of sinners from the divine plan for human living (Gen. 2:15). While science by itself cannot explain what is presently happening to the natural world, the witness of science blends with that of God’s Word to inform us that the cup of human iniquity is rapidly reaching the brim.

Conclusion: “Look up, and lift up your heads.”

Ultimately, of course, God isn’t waiting on natural or other disasters so that Jesus can come. The timing of the second advent is ultimately decided by the spiritual preparedness of God’s people, whose divinely-imparted holiness will hasten Jesus’ return and reveal God’s character of love in stark contrast with sin and selfishness (Zeph. 3:13; I Thess. 5:23; II Peter 3:10-14; I John 3:2-3; Rev. 3:21; 14:5). But the increased agony and groaning of God’s natural kingdom is declared by Jesus to be a cause for rejoicing among His waiting disciples. Fear and trepidation should not possess our hearts when we witness such events, but rather, sorrow for those who suffer in concert with a revival of the blessed hope of our Savior’s soon coming (Tits 2:11-13). In Jesus’ own words:

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).

REFERENCES

1. Paul P. Murphy, Rebekah Riess, and Dakin Andone, “Sanibel and Captiva islands cut off from Florida mainland after Ian’s ‘biblical’ storm surge washes away three parts of Sanibel Causeway,” CNN, Sept. 29, 2022 https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/29/us/sanibel-causeway-bridge-florida-hurricane-ian/index.html

2. “Tropical Storm Ian live updates: Biden warns of ‘substantial loss of life,’ says it may be the deadliest storm in Florida history,” NBC News, Sept. 29, 2022 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/hurricane-ian-live-updates-rcna49927

3. Angela Fritz and Brandon Miller, “1,000-year rainfall, record-breaking surge: How climate change made Hurricane Ian more destructive,” CNN, Sept. 29, 2022 https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/29/weather/hurricane-ian-1000-year-rainfall-climate

4. Paul P. Murphy, Rebekah Reiss, and Ray Sanchez, “Hurricane-ravaged Sanibel Island ‘is cut off from the world right now,’” CNN, Sept. 30, 2022 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/30/us/sanibel-island-florida-hurricane-ian/index.html

5. Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 277.

6. ----The Great Controversy, pp. 589-590.

7. ----Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 408.

Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan