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NOTE: This article or series has not been updated recently. As such, it may possibly contain some outdated information, and/or ideas and beliefs which I no longer embrace, or which have changed to some degree.

Treasure Trove of Truth and Revelation

To nonbelievers and scoffers, God's Word -- the Bible -- is a book full of ancient myths and fair tales. It is something which modern, intelligent, educated people just laugh at and dismiss; at least so the mockers claim. However, for those men, women and children who love God, and who believe that the Bible is His Authoritative Word, it is a treasure trove of unlimited truth and revelation. Sometimes that revelation is uplifting and inspiring, while at other times it would be downright frightening, if it were not for the fact that we know that God -- our Heavenly Father -- loves and cares for His own, and that He will allow nothing to happen to His beloved children, unless it is for our own good. This is a truth to which I can personally bear witness.

If you wish to explore this particular topic at a later date, you may want to consider reading such articles as "Beholding the Evil and the Good", "Love and Light, or Rod and Wrath?", "Love, Mercy, Forgiveness and Chastisement", and "Free Will and Personal Choice".

The Wrath of God

While I have written a number of articles which dwell upon the amazing future which awaits God's born-again, saved children, this current series will center upon some of the more unnerving, prophetic, future events which await sinful mankind, and the Earth itself. These events have to do with the Wrath of God which will someday be poured out upon the rebellious inhabitants of this planet, in the form of a variety of Endtime Plagues and Judgments.

No doubt, just mentioning words such as "wrath", "plagues" and "judgments" will cause some misguided people to sit up and say "Wait a minute! That's not the God that I know! My God is a loving Being who would never do anything harmful to His children. He is a God of Love, and most certainly not a God of Wrath as you seem to believe. My friend, if you have been misled by that erroneous doctrine, which really has no Biblical support, then I encourage you to read on.

I also encourage you read the aforementioned articles, as well as other articles such as the six-part series entitled "The Great Tribulation and the Rapture", and "The Fruits of Disobedience". As you will see, our God is both a God of Love, as well as a God of Wrath. How He chooses to react to us, depends a lot on how we each react to Him. For the time being, just to dispel any doubts that you may have regarding this issue, please consider the following sample verses:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."


"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"


"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."


"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"


"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb . . . And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God."


"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God . . . And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever."


"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth . . . And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."


"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."


So as you can plainly see, a time of Judgement and Wrath is indeed prophesied to come upon the Earth at some point in the future. This is not a manmade doctrine; it is Biblical fact. Do you still have any doubts about it?

Global Warming

For some time now, ever since the controversial issue of Global Warming was brought to the fore of people's minds, I have contemplated whether or not there is any Scriptural evidence to support the belief that Global Warming is real. A few Bible verses which I have often quoted when writing about this issue, which may possibly add some validity to the reality of Global Warming, are the following ones, which are found in the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation:

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory."


While Global Warming may possibly be what is being described in the previous verses, there are other possibilities which I have begun to consider, which may be even more valid, and which may better fit what is being stated in those verses. I base my new considerations on the fact that in the previous verses, the word "scorch" is derived from the Greek word "kaumatizo". According to Thayer's Greek English Lexicon, it means to burn with heat, to scorch, or to be tortured with intense heat.

While I am not a climatologist or a scientist in any regard, my personal understanding is that Global Warming is a very gradual process. It is not something which just suddenly happens from one day to the next, or even from one year to the next. In similar fashion, when one places a pot of water on the stove, it does not come to a boil immediately. The temperature of the water must slowly rise until it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit -- or 100 degrees Celsius -- before it will reach a full boil.

Furthermore, it is my understanding that Global Warming will not cause people to be scorched with intense heat. The word I wish to emphasize here is "scorched". When I see that word "scorch", I think of something like a flamethrower, or maybe meat that is being cooked on a barbecue grill, or over a hot campfire. While we humans sometimes like to use the phrase "scorching heat", the fact of the matter is that it is really an over-exaggeration in most cases.

As many of you will already know, Global Warming is believed to be caused by, or at least aggravated by -- depending on who you wish to believe -- a gradual buildup of heat within the Earth's atmosphere, which results from modern industrial emissions and pollutants -- that is, heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide -- which in effect prevent the heat from escaping back out into Outer Space. It is like putting a lid on the pot. In other words, it is what has come to be termed the "Greenhouse Effect", whereby a hot, humid atmosphere is artificially created within a controlled environment. But, to be fair, it is also important to point out that others are of the opinion that Global Warming has very little to do with human activity, and is simply a natural part of the Earth's life cycle.

While the Sun is believed to play a crucial role in the process of Global Warming -- being as it provides the heat which is later trapped within the Earth's atmosphere -- it seems to me that the aforementioned verses from the Book of Revelation may possibly be indicating something different to us. According to the accepted theory, Global Warming occurs in large part as a result of activities that happen on the Earth; that is, human activity. In other words, while the Sun is clearly involved, the Earth is actually the main player. However, with the previous verses, I am given the impression that the Sun is actually the main cause behind people being "scorched with great heat" on the Earth. God is using the Sun to mete out His Judgments on the rebellious people of Planet Earth. The Sun is the mechanism of God's chastisements.

As I pondered these thoughts, I read the verses which come right after the aforementioned ones. Consider the following:

"And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."


I have begun to suspect that what occurs in the previous three verses, is a direct result of what occurred in verses eight and nine. In other words, first we are told that the Sun scorches men "with fire" and "with great heat"; and then we are informed that the kingdom of the Beast is cast into darkness. How can that possibly be? I believe that we are also being told that people "gnawed their tongues for pain" because of the "pains and sores" which resulted from them being scorched by the Sun in the previous two verses. Thus, it seems evident to me that these things do not possibly result from just Global Warming alone. There is more going on in these verses; at least so it seems to me.

This great heat would also explain why the Euphrates River dries up. This latter point is something which I have also briefly mentioned in a few other articles as well. In case you are not personally aware of it, even now, droughts and water shortages are already a major political issue in the nations of the Middle East. But my main point is that all of these events result from something happening to the Sun, or perhaps happening to the Earth in relationship to the Sun. So the question is, what is it?

At this point in our discussion, we are going to delve into a bit of personal speculation. Please bear in mind that what I am about to share with you are just my unproven theories, and nothing more. They may not even be scientifically sound theories. Those of you who possess more scientific knowledge than I, will be able to make your own determination as to their plausibility.

Depletion of the Ozone Layer

While most of the nations of the world have been signatories to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, which is a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, and are thus obligated to work towards reducing and eliminating their use of ozone-depleting substances such as Chlorofluorocarbons -- or CFC's -- as well as Hydrochlorofluorocarbons -- or HCFC's -- according to the information that I have read, the Earth's ozone layer is still not expected to fully recover until the year 2050. This is of course assuming that all of the signatory nations stay focused and on track. Given the nature of modern politics, national economic interests and other factors, I must wonder how well -- or how poorly -- the nations of the world are really doing at this current time.

As many of you will already know, the Earth's ozone layer protects all life on Earth from being subjected to dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Depending on its wavelength, ultraviolet radiation comes in three forms; that is, UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. UV-C is the most dangerous of the three, and would be extremely harmful to all life on our planet. However, we can be thankful that by God's Design, it is completely blocked from reaching the Earth by the ozone layer. While UV-B is somewhat less harmful, nevertheless, it is still responsible for causing sunburn. Furthermore, it is important to know that excessive exposure to UV-B can result in genetic damage, including skin cancer. The least harmful of ultraviolet radiation is UV-A. However, most of it does reach our planet, and excessive exposure to it may possibly result in genetic damage.

What I find amazing is the fact that if all of the ozone that is contained in the ozone layer were to be compressed to the pressure of the air at sea level, it would only measure three millimeters thick. Despite this fact, the Earth's ozone layer actually absorbs 97-99% of the Sun's high frequency UV light. Talk about God's amazing design, and His Divine Care for His children!

Having now shared with you the previous scientific facts, consider what would happen if, either through man's neglect and his failure to repair the ozone layer, or simply due to an Act of God, that is, a Judgment of God, the ozone layer was to be completely destroyed, or at the very least, it was to be seriously depleted; not just over the polar regions, as at this current time, but everywhere. If over exposure to UV-B can result in skin cancers -- is this the "pains and sores" that is described in the previous verses from the Book of Revelation? -- imagine what exposure to UV-C might do to us.

Solar Flares

While the Earth is located at a distance of one AU -- or 93 million miles -- from the Sun, this distance does not protect us from the effects of invisible Solar Flares. Solar Flares, which are large releases of electromagnetic energy, affect our planet in the form of high-speed clouds which consist of electrons, ions, and atoms, one or two days after said event has erupted on the surface of the Sun. These effects include the disruption of long-range radio communications, radars and similar technologies. Solar Flares also pose serious radiation hazards to spacecraft and astronauts, which is one reason why manned space flights are deemed to be a very risky business. If you are reading this series on the Bill's Bible Basics website, below you can view an online animation of a Solar Flare in OGG video format. In order to play it again, place your mouse over the image, and then click on the triangle which appears on your screen. This video works with Firefox and Google Chrome. It may not work with other web browsers.



I have sometimes wondered if, in His Divine Wisdom, God chose to use these various forms of dangerous radiation as a means to prevent man from carrying his violence and sins out into Outer Space, and potentially to other inhabited worlds. If we as a race are unable to overcome our problems and differences here on Planet Earth through peaceful, diplomatic means, and choose instead to resort to war, economic embargos, targeted assassinations and other forms of violence, why should we be blessed with the ability to explore Outer Space? I am reminded of the following verse. While the ancient Prophet Habakkuk was not actually referring to modern space flight -- he was really prophesying against the land of Edom -- nevertheless, from a modern perspective, I think that it is an applicable verse:

"Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD."


To continue, due to the effect that they have on the Earth's outer atmosphere, Solar Flares can also affect low-orbiting satellites, resulting in orbital decay. Solar Flares are also believed to produce Coronal Mass Ejections, which we will be discussing in part three of this series. Similar to CME's, more powerful Solar Flares are capable of knocking out electrical power grids for months at a time. I have read that the most powerful Solar Flare to have ever been observed occurred on September 1, 1859. Not only was this particular Solar Flare visible to the naked eye -- which in itself is highly unusual -- but it also produced auroras as far south as Cuba and Hawaii. Furthermore, the 1859 Solar Flare set telegraph systems on fire!

Concerning their frequency, depending upon whether the Sun is in an active phase or a quiet phase, Solar Flares can occur as often as several times during the course of a day, or as little as once a week, or even less. Furthermore, less powerful Solar Flares occur more frequently than larger ones. However, keep in mind that all it takes is one powerful one to wreak havoc upon the Earth.

My question is this: What would happen if the Earth were to be bombarded by -- or pass through -- a major Solar Flare of unprecedented proportions, such as a class X50 Solar Flare, for example? Aside from the widespread damage which would no doubt result to electronic systems and such, how would being bombarded by such heavy doses of electromagnetic radiation, -- including deadly ultraviolet radiation -- after our bodies? How would such an event affect our skin, our genetic makeup, and our biological processes? And what about the Earth itself? As some of you will already know, the Book of Revelation does speak of one third of the trees being burned up, and all of the grass on our planet being burned up, as we see by these verses that are found in Revelation chapter eight:

"And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up."


Exactly what this "hail and fire mingled with blood" is, I honestly do not know. I would suspect that it might possibly be a reference to solar plasma striking the Earth except for one thing: the blood. Is it possible then that these verses are actually referring to the immediate aftereffects of a nuclear bomb, in which everything -- including bloody body parts -- would fall to the Earth? As I said, I honestly do not know at this point in time; but there is one thing that we ought to consider: If this "hail and fire mingled with blood" is going to destroy one third of the trees, as well as all of the grass, what will it do to actual people?

Now ask yourself this question: What if at some point in the future, something currently unknown, and totally unexpected, alters the course of our planet through the heavens, so that its trajectory is brought in closer proximity to the Sun? How would a closer orbit to the Sun affect the Earth, if we were bombarded by a Solar Flare? How much more damage would be done? If you doubt this possibility, then I urge you to keep reading.

Earth's Orbit Altered

As I mentioned a moment ago, Solar Flares striking the Earth are not remote occurrences. They actually occur on a regular basis. However, there are other things which occur in the heavens which can serve as a catalyst, and make just such a scenario, as I previously described, possible.

Many of you reading this series will no doubt be familiar with NEO's; that is, Near Earth Objects. As our knowledge of Outer Space around us has increased, the heads of national governments, astronomers and other kinds of scientists have found it necessary to make it their business to regularly track a plethora of space objects -- space debris, if you prefer -- which pose a potential threat and danger to our planet. In astronomical lingo, these objects are referred to as PHO's; that is, Potentially Hazard Objects.

Generally speaking, a Potentially Hazard Object is defined as any asteroid or comet which possesses an orbit which can bring it into close proximity with Planet Earth, and which possesses a size large enough to cause significant regional damage in the event of impact. More specifically, an object is considered to be a PHO if its minimum orbit intersection distance -- or MOID -- with respect to Earth is less than 0.05 Astronomical Units, and its diameter is at least one hundred and fifty meters, which is about four hundred and ninety-two feet. Were it to strike on land, planetary impact by an object of this particular size is sufficient to result in regional devastation unprecedented in our human history.

If such an object were to strike one of our oceans, it could also result in a major tsunami. The tsunami which struck the Japanese archipelago following the March 2011 9.0 undersea earthquake -- which is known as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake or the Great East Japan Earthquake -- is actually minimal by comparison, yet look at how much damage it caused. As you may know, the nation of Japan is still recovering from that earthquake and tsunami.

PHO's are comprised primarily of PHA's -- or Potentially Hazardous Asteroids -- and PHC's -- or Potentially Hazardous Comets. As of August of this current year -- 2011 -- a total of 1,244 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids are known to exist. This is a topic which I will be discussing more in depth in a separate article at some future date. It is already in the works.

While a direct strike by a Potentially Hazardous Object would no doubt be very devastating for our planet, there is another danger which directly relates to my previous comments, and that is this: What if such a strike by a Potentially Hazardous Object were to result in our planetary orbit being altered to some degree? Not being an expert in the areas of astronomy or astrophysics, I honestly do not know how large such an object would have to be, or even at what speed it would have to be traveling, in order for this to occur. However, assuming that such a devastating scenario is indeed possible, as I asked a moment ago, what if this theoretical alteration was sufficient to bring the Earth into a closer trajectory to the Sun?

Taking the previous thoughts a step further, what if, as a result of the Earth's orbital alteration, we were so close at our perihelion -- that is, the Earth's closest point in its orbit around the Sun -- that our planet would be engulfed by -- or at least pass through -- a major Solar Flare? Would such an event fulfill the prophecy in the Book of Revelation in which we are told that men "gnaw their tongues for pain", and are tormented "with fire" and "with great heat"? What do you think?

Great Tribulation on the Earth

In thinking about the previous theoretical scenarios, I am reminded of a number of verses in the New Testament that were both spoken by Jesus, and written by his First Century followers. These verses describe a period of great calamity and tribulation which will be so terrible, that even Jesus Himself tells us that there has never been a period like it before on the Earth, and never will be again. Furthermore, the Lord informs us that it will be so frightful, that men's hearts will fail them -- widespread heart attacks? -- due to the great fear which will engulf them, as they witness the terrible things that are happening upon the Earth, as well as in the heavens with the Sun, the Moon and the stars. Even the Prophet Joel writes about these things, and the Apostle Peter likewise warns us how the Earth will be engulfed by fire. Consider the following verses which describe this period of Great Tribulation on the Earth

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."


"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened . . . Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"


"And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken."


"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken . . . Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."


"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"


"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise."


"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men . . . But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up . . . Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"


I have long believed that when Jesus said that no flesh would be saved unless He and His Father cut short the period known to many Bible students as the Great Tribulation, that this meant that we would simply destroy ourselves, either through nuclear war, or perhaps by some other means. However in light of the previous verses, I have begun to wonder if what Jesus really meant, is that, were it not for His Father's Mercy, all of the people of the Earth would perish as a result of God's Judgments and great Wrath, as they are described in the aforementioned sample verses.

Please go to part two for the continuation of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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