Echoes and Reflections on Storms: Typhoon Pakhar Makes Landfall Closely after Hato
Shi Lei
On 23rd August, a terrifying video clips have emerged on social media showing that in some place in Zhongshan city, Guangdong province, a male truck driver tried to hold up the truck with his hands as Typhoon Hato struck. Unexpectedly, the truck was overturned by strong wind and the driver was crushed and killed instantly.
Yes, it is Hato, the 13th Typhoon which caused this tragic event. After US in the Western Hemisphere experienced the total solar eclipse on August 21st, witnessing the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy of the last days one more time, China has suffered a new disaster struck. At noon on 23rd, Typhoon Hato slammed into Macau and Hong Kong, continued to make landfall in the city of Zhuhai in southern China, widespread devastations have been made in its path. Only 3 days and 12 hours later, Typhoon Pakhar came, tracking a quite similar path to Typhoon Hato, which is the shortest interval of two tropical cyclone signals no. 8 since July 1966 in Hong Kong.
Macau’s Chief Executive Fernando Chui spoke on August 24th, said Hato is the strongest typhoon in 53 years. There have been at least 10 victims and more than 200 injured in Macau, whose population is only 648 thousand. Fong Soi-kun, director of the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau had resigned over the delay and error of prediction. Typhoon caused citywide serious flooding, a massive blackout of power and lack of water supply in Macau.
Hong Kong issues the first Hurricane Signal No.10 in 5 years, which is the highest level of tropical cyclone warning signals. In the wake of two typhoons within one week, battered Hong Kong suffered significant economic losses, leaving 1 people dead and more than 100 people injured.
5 coastal provinces of southeastern China wreaked havoc as the same. As of August 26th, overall, more than 700,000 people were affected, 15 people were killed, 1 was missing, and the direct economic losses amounted up to CN¥12.18 billion (US$1.83 billion).
As time goes by, death toll may continue to climb.
It always arouses curiosity because every typhoon has a special name, sometimes it is beautiful. But as shown in the media, when the gales sweep the cities and villages, cars, trees, houses, and people all become a mess and no aesthetic beauty can be felt at the very least. The chaotic situation and sudden lost of lives are all telling the intrinsic characteristic of the last days: There are more disasters and fears, and the fate of humanity is more precarious. Just like the truck driver, he may have been a driver for many years and have never met any fatal danger in his driving, but was crushed and killed by his own overturned car in the typhoon which occurred suddenly. Such a misfortune is not expected by anyone, however, who can rid himself from the attack of the disasters?
According to the prophecies in the Bible, today of the last days, the increasing of disasters in frequency and ferocity has been an inevitable trend. Then, what information does God convey to us through the disasters? Death is not the ultimate goal, because those wicked ones who never repent can never escape from the disasters, but for the survivors, the increasing number of disasters are worthy of reflection.
Nowadays, the disasters ensue one after another as if they have been numbered. Storm Pakhar’s arrival comes as the cities are still reeling from Hato. It is unpredictable how many disasters will follow up frequently. Meanwhile, those who don’t come before God lose their lives in the disaster like to be numbered also. … Would we bow our head, no longer craving physical enjoyment and indulgence of desires, seeking for fortune and fame, or scheming and cheating, only when the devastating catastrophe completely befalls as prophesied in the Revelation and no leeway is left for repentance at all? But will it be so late then? Just like in Noah’s days, when the Deluge came and was about to engulf all the people, they just recalled Noah’s message and began to seek for God’s caring. But the ark had closed the door. What would be the significance of waking up so late? Their fate had been destined when they rejected the gospel during the days when Noah was instructed to build the ark by God. Therefore, it is not that God had not given people chances, but people at that time didn’t cherish them.
The Lord Jesus prophesied, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mat 24:37). “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” (Luk 21:11). History always repeats itself in an amazing way: mankind in both ages was identically corrupt, and both were times of the approaching of great disasters, it has revealed that the day of God judging the world publicly is imminent.
Now there are only various frequent local disasters, like earthquakes, floods, typhoons, and plagues, and also the fulfillment of astronomical phenomena, like four blood moons and total solar eclipse. Once the great disaster befalls entirely, it will be the time of God’s public judgment of the world, also the time limit that God gives man for repentance has reached the deadline. The door of grace will be closed. How many people will repeat the tragedy of history of sorely regretting losing such a good opportunity like those people who did not enter the ark? Hence, the disasters of today are more warning and exhortation than punishment. God hopes those unrepentant people who are trapped in sin can turn toward God as soon as possible. God will protect all those who believe in Him sincerely and love the truth, letting us survive the disaster and living forever in His kingdom.
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