Ozone - A Sign in the Heavens?
9/25/2000, Vince Aquilino
Expect the Unexpected - Part 3 - Ozone - A Sign in the Heavenlies?
``The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him." (Rev 16:8-9)
On Thursday, Aug 31, 2000 the WMO (World Meteorological Organization) reported that the ozone layer above Antarctica is being depleted at an accelerated rate showing an average decrease of about 30 percent in the total amount of ozone overhead, when compared to the 1964-76 norms.
Two weeks ago NASA said the ozone hole was the largest ever seen over Antarctica and the WMO, stated: "This is an alarming rate of [ozone]decrease. It is double the amount we had observed two weeks ago, and this could lead to a much greater ozone hole."
Then on September 22, 2000 the WMO reported that during the past two weeks, all 12 monitoring stations around the rim of the Antarctic have reported measurements of ozone that are 50-70 percent below the norms and that the ozone hole now covered all of Antarctica and then some stretching all the way down to the southern tip of South America. NASA said at the time that the hole spread over 11 million square miles, an area three times larger than the land mass of the United States.
Is the Ozone Hole Predicted by the Bible?
During the time of God's judgment on unrepentent mankind, the sun will burn man with intense heat. Is the Ozone Hole the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophesy? It certainly could be. And if it continues to worsen, it could also contribute to famine and pestilence. As we discussed previously , an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters (such as earthquakes, pestilence, and famine) are signs of Jesus' return. We also discussed that when these events begin to take place, our redemption is very near (Matt 24:33).
It is the ozone layer which protects us from the burning effects of ultra-violet (UV) radiation. Ozone is a scarce trace element in the atmosphere. If it were gathered together in a layer around the earth, it would be only three millimeters thick. And yet this scarce element is essential for life on this planet. Without it, all life on earth would die.
In Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the UV radiation levels have been added to the daily weather forecasts. The higher the UV level, the less time required before receiving a sunburn.
Ozone levels at the South Pole were the lowest ever recorded. But it is not just the South Pole, anymore. NASA reports a 10% reduction, on average, in ozone in the middle latitudes, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Hudson Bay. The problem with averages is evident in the story of the six-foot man who drowned in a lake which, on average, was only two feet deep. Typically, ozone levels vary by 20% in some regions and on some days the ozone level decreased as much as 40-45%.
The ozone hole over Antarctica has grown to some eleven million square miles. The broadened ban on ozone-reducing chemicals, that took effect in 1995, was too little too late. Since it takes many years for these chemicals to reach the ozone level of the atmosphere, ozone will continue to be destroyed until about 2050 AD.
The population of Patagonia, Chile which is periodically under the Antarctica Ozone Hole, is keenly aware of the effects of UV radiation. Skin rashes are becoming commonplace. Sheep are going blind from eye disease directly related to UV contamination. Increased rates of food crop deformity have been reported. Scientists, studying these phenomena, have discovered a correlation between UV levels and the onset of disease.
Scientists predict that the current increase in UV radiation will cause 300,000 more cases of skin cancer, increase the incidence of cataracts, and impair our immune systems. UV contamination is serious. It goes well beyond just getting a sunburn. If our immune systems are weakened, we will see an increase in all manner of disease and set the stage for more rampant plagues (as predicted prior to Christ's return).
What's more alarming is a direct field study in the waters south of Chile which showed a twelve percent decrease in the growth of plankton. Plankton is the basic food supply at the bottom of the ocean's food chain. This is a potential disaster of immense proportions. If the bottom of the ocean's food chain is destroyed, famine (which is already a serious problem around the world) will greatly increase in incidence and intensity.
UV radiation does impair our immune systems. This will make us even more susceptible to rampant disease and pestilence (plague). AIDS has the potential to become a plague of biblical proportions. It is highly contagious. Will AIDS continue to increase in intensity in fulfillment of biblical prophesy?
The ``birth pains" have begun. They will continue to intensify as the day of the Lord's return grows near.
If you have not built your house upon the rock of Jesus Christ, you are not going to make it. Are you walking with Jesus? Are you meditating on His Word, the Bible, every day? Do you hear His voice, or is He drowned out by the din of constant activity in your life? Jesus is coming soon, and none will stand except by His mighty power at work in their lives.
Are you playing games with God? Is their still hidden sin in your life? It is time to get serious with God and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The future is in sight and, without Jesus, it is a frightening one. It is no wonder that Jesus warned: ``Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.'' (Luke 21:34-35)
Is there Hope? Yes, Jesus is the Living Hope for all who have asked God to forgive their sins and have asked Jesus to come into their lives as Lord and Savior. Jesus has promised His children that He would never leave them or forsake them. If you have accepted Jesus' free gift of salvation, then no matter what happens in the future, Jesus will be with you. When the storms of life come against you, it will be possible for you to stand by His mighty power and presence in your life.
God knows how to deliver His people. During their exodus from Egypt, God fed the children of Israel with manna in the wilderness, provided water out of solid rock and parted the Red Sea. Lot and His family were escorted out by Angels before Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. Noah and his family went through Judgment but were protected by the Ark of their salvation. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked through the fire unharmed, because God was with them.
Someday we will all stand before God. He'll look to His right on those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life and say ``Well done, good and faithful servants. Enter into your rest.`` But to those on the left, those who refused to accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, He will say ``Depart from me, ye cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and His Angels."
Everlasting damnation is not God's will for your life. God loves you. He sent His only begotten son to die for your sins that you might have life. Jesus himself said of His first coming that he did not come to judge the world but to save it. Soon the opportunity to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life will be over.
The Father in Heaven will turn to Jesus and say, "Your bride, the church, is now complete. The last believer who is going to accept you has done so. Now go and get your bride." The plan of God will have been completed, the salvation of man done, the last church service ended, the last soul saved. Jesus can then say to his Father, "My days of Priesthood are over. I'm putting on my robes of Judgment, gathering the Host of Heaven and going to the Judgment.``
The last trumpet will sound. There will be great voices in Heaven; it will be the day longed for, the day the martyrs will be vindicated, the day the saints will receive new bodies. The bride of Christ will meet the Lamb of God. The Angels and the redeemed of all ages will meet together around the throne of God. This will be the day that the Lord has made. It will be the end of all forces that oppose Jesus. It will all happen in a moment of time.
When the Angels of the Lord see that Jesus is returning to earth to redeem man, a shout will go up, for soon Jesus will return to earth. Jesus, the Angels, and the redeemed of the Lord will then descend from the third heaven (the spiritual realm where God and His Angels exist) into the second heaven (the physical realm of the celestial bodies - the sun, moon, etc). He will be seen by all coming in glory to judge the living and the dead. Every eye shall see him, and all the tribes on the earth shall mourn as they see Jesus coming in judgment. At that time, your eternal destiny will be fixed. No longer will it be your choice to accept God's free gift of salvation. It will be too late. The door will be closed.
But it is not yet too late. Jesus says, "I put before you life or death; choose life." Seek the Lord while it is still day, for the night is coming when no man may seek him. Today is the day of your salvation. Call upon the name of Jesus today, repent of your sins, and ask Him into your life as Lord of your life and you will be saved. God will seal you with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of your future redemption.
Purify yourselves daily by the reading of the Word. Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Church. ``Today is the day of salvation for many who are perishing; their tomorrow shall not see my return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Today is the day of their salvation." Don't delay. Time is short. You have no guarantee that you will even see tomorrow. If you die without receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your eternal destiny is fixed.
``It is now the hour to awake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith.'' (Rom 13:11)
As we see the signs of His return drawing close, what manner of holy life should we be living? Remember that Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Bride. Whether His return is today or 10 years from now is irrelevant since eternity is only a heart beat away for any of us. So choose this day whom you will serve, ask the Holy Spirit to search you to see if there be any iniquity in you, and then call upon Jesus your Deliverer. He is faithful for forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unfaithfulness.
How to Be Saved Through Jesus
For more information on the prophetic significance of signs in the heavens, please visit:
http://www.prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory then click on "Prophetic Analysis", then click on on "Signs Above", and then select the article: "Signs in the Heavens"
"Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Maranatha!
Expect the Unexpected - Part 1
Expect the Unexpected - Part 2
Expect the Unexpected - Part 3
Expect the Unexpected - Part 4
Expect the Unexpected - Part 5
Matthew 24 -- Current Events and the Signs of the End of the Age -- Part 1
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