The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

December 2010

Indonesian Tsunami & Volcano


An earthquake generated tsunami on Oct 25 killed at least 435 people with 110 still missing as of Oct. 31, 2010. Additional deaths were reported from a volcano eruption on another island.

Indonesia has ramped up efforts to help those on remote islands hit by a devastating tsunami as an official put the latest death toll at 435, with 110 missing and feared dead.

Rescuers trying to reach isolated villages were hampered by torrential rains and heavy seas yesterday, as three-metre-high waves pounded the coastline.

But in a rare piece of good news, 135 people were found alive, hiding on high ground and too afraid of another wave to return to their shattered villages.

“So far, 435 people are known to have been killed by the tsunami and 110 people are missing,” disaster management official Joskamatir said (“Indonesia tsunami toll hits 435,” www.abc.net.au, Oct. 31, 2010).

An unpredictable volcano added to the mix of suffering and inconvenience.

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano erupted several times Wednesday [Nov. 3], while an earthquake struck off of the coast of Papua, far to the east of the volcano.

Mount Merapi, in central Java, spewed plumes intermittently for about five hours, sending out enough ash to prompt authorities to extend the danger zone an extra 5 km, to a 15 km radius from the volcano.

The extension forced thousands of evacuees to seek shelter farther away, a local journalist told CNN.

Mount Merapi’s lava and ash have killed at least 39 people since it began erupting on October 26. An additional 74 have been injured and more than 71,000 people have been evacuated, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Board (“Indonesia hit by earthquake and more volcanic ash,” www.cnn.com, Nov. 3, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Greater future stresses are warned of in the Bible, but the answer is the same, resolution at the time of Jesus’ second coming.

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. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:25-27).

U.S. Election – Voter Frustration?


Regarding the recent U.S. national election, the Washington Post tersely expressed:

There is no blunter way for voters to send a message. For the third election in a row, Americans kicked a political party out of power.

So you would think that, by now, politicians in Washington would have gotten the message: They must be doing something wrong “Once again, the electorate demanded a new start,” www.washingtonpost.com, Nov. 3, 2010).

Comments on an opinion poll 8 weeks before the election indicated that voters were frustrated over several issues:

“The summer kicked off with Joe Biden predicting a gain of 500,000 jobs per month,” said Republican stragegist Mary Matalin. “Instead, we’ve lost 400,000 jobs.”

“There is and continues to be great frustration with where we are in this economy,” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. “Among those frustrated is the President of the United States.”

“The American people are concerned about whether or not they have a job, how they’re going to pay their bills, the future of their children,” Gibbs added. “I think that’s what the American people are concerned about, and that’s the task that the president will spend every day worrying about.”

Still, voters have made it clear in polls they’re frustrated with more than just the economy. They’re also opposed to Washington’s huge spending spree, and the new health care law (Poll Shows Voters Frustrated with Democrats on Economy,” www.cbnnews.com, Sep. 28, 2010).

Inspired commentary

Inspiration indicates that the “elephant in the room” that pluralistic politicians don’t like to acknowledge is a moral foundation based on the Bible. However, balancing the need for the moral foundation with the principle of religious liberty can be very difficult.

There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God’s word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them. (Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 13)

California Earthquake Warning


The San Adreas fault runs about 810 miles through California, from Northern California through southern California. Massive earthquakes have occurred along this fault in 1857 (south section) and 1906 (northern section – the San Francisco earthquake).

Recent research suggests a bigger pending earthquake event than had been previously thought.

Recent research showing that a section of the fault is long overdue for a major earthquake has some scientists saying the southern portion of the fault is capable of a magnitude 8.1 earthquake that could run 340 miles from Monterey County to the Salton Sea.

That’s significantly stronger and longer than the southern San Andreas’ last major rupture, in 1857. Such a temblor would cause much more damage because with a larger stretch of the fault rupturing, a larger area would be exposed to the quake and the shaking would last longer.

Whether such a quake would happen in our lifetime had been a subject of hot debate among scientists. That’s because until recently, experts believed that a part of the southern San Andreas that runs through the Carrizo Plain 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles would remain dormant for at least another century.

But that rosy hypothesis seemed to be shattered by an August report in the journal Geology by researchers at UC Irvine and Arizona State University, which said that even that section is far overdue for a major quake (“Earthquake experts see the ‘Big One’ getting bigger,” www.latimes.com, Oct. 10, 2010).

With the growth in development since the last major Southern California earthquake, the damage would be commensurately increased.

Inspired commentary

Jesus instructed His disciples about difficult times to come:

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matt. 24:6-8).

And note this comment:

Today the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Everything in our world is in agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling the Saviour’s prophecy of the events to precede His coming: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Maranatha, p. 68).





Page created:11/04/2010. Updated: 11/04/2010
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