Volcanoes remind of future judgment

My wife and I are vacationing on the big island of Hawaii.

Of all the islands, Hawaii is the most recent. We toured the Halema‘uma‘u Crater. It is crusted over now, but for most of the 19th century it was a boiling lake of lava. Mark Twain and many celebrities of his time visited. They described it as viewing the fiery pits of hell.

When Isabella Bird visited in 1873 she wrote, “Here was the real bottomless pit — the fire which is not quenched — the place of hell — the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone — the everlasting burnings — the fiery sea whose waves are never weary. There were groanings, rumblings and detonations, rushings, hissings and splashing, and the crashing sound of breakers on the coast, but it was the surging of fiery waves upon a fiery shore.”

Viewing the effects of the volcanic eruptions reminded me of the Bible. God promises, “But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7). Peter warns that this age will end in tremendous volcanic eruptions.

The Halema’uma’u Crater has risen and fallen over time. It’s gone from over 1,000 feet deep to overflowing its top. Now, it’s 2 miles across and about 300 feet deep. Today the steam is escaping from the crater. The sulfur smell is very powerful. Another dormant volcano in Hawaii is Mauna Kea. It is the largest mountain in the world. This mountain rises 13,000 feet above sea level. Yet, its base begins 17.000 feet below sea level. There is tremendous power in volcanic eruptions.

John the Apostle warned about the coming volcanic eruptions. “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of the heavens fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind” (Revelation 6:12-13). John is describing volcanic eruptions. Great earthquakes will trigger the eruptions. The smoke and the dust thrown into the air will make the sun appear black and the moon red.

In 1790, a volcano exploded in Hawaii. The mountain was ripped apart. Darkness enveloped the area. Volcano-induced thunder and lightning emanated from the crater. Huge amounts of hot ash rained down. A suffocating gas belched up from the volcano. Four hundred people died. Most were asphyxiated from the noxious fumes.

John the Apostle warned again in Revelation 8:8-9, “Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.”

John saw something like a great mountain burning with fire thrown into the sea. He saw a great volcano in the ocean. A third of the sea turned red. Red tides occur when the ocean is heated. Tiny microscopic organisms reproduce at fantastic rates. They consume the oxygen in the water. The fish die.

“… and a third of the ships were destroyed,” it goes on to say. Earthquakes and volcanoes produce tsunamis. A tsunami does not impact shipping on the open sea; however, upon reaching shore the power of a tsunami is devastating. Hilo (the main city of Hawaii) has been destroyed by tsunamis many times. In 1923 and 1946, and again in 1960, tsunamis came screaming shore. On April 1, 1946, a tsunami struck. The highest waves were 55 feet high. During this April Fool’s Day tsunami 21 schoolchildren and three adults were swept to their deaths.

Jesus the Messiah warned of the upcoming devastation. Jesus said, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectations of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-26).

The darkness from the dust and the ash and the smoke will dim the light of the sun and the moon. This will cause people to look up. Then Jesus will return with great power and great glory.

Since we know the end this should influence our lives today. Peter said, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Even the beauty of Hawaii does not compare with the beauty when Jesus returns. When Jesus returns, he will remake this earth into a much better place. You and I must put our faith and trust in Jesus. He has the answers. He died for your sins. He rose from the dead. He lived a sinless life. He is perfect. We must be ready for his return. Won’t you put your trust in him today?

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship of Big Lake. He can be contacted at ethanchansen@-gci.net.