"And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves 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 who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev6:15-17)

This is being written July 1, 2001 (as a reference point to when the reader may read it, or it might get mailed, and to the things said).

This past week Spokane has been an earthquake zone. It began Monday morning (6/25/01) with a couple of jolts which woke up the local media to start having live coverage of it. Throughout the day various rumbles and "bangs" could be heard/felt. These rumbles have continue off and on throughout the entire week. However, by Saturday, I was beginning to wonder if we were past it all.

Last night (Saturday 6/30/01), as there was nothing worth watching on TV, when the little thunder storm/rain moved through, I decided to turn off the TV and go to bed, and listen to the rain through my open window. The rain shower moved through, and then the various noises of the neighborhood were wafting through the air, and then suddenly... R-U-M-B-L-E. A few seconds later again, R-U-M-B-L-E. OK... so... we are not yet finished with the earth moving! As I was lying there in bed, wondering if any more would be coming along, suddenly the sky lit up, and "RUMBLE" (thunder).

I have always been fascinated by lightning and thunder. The more ferocious, the 'better'. And with this past week of the earth rumbling, I am becoming in awe of that. But put the two together in proximity to each other. If you have experienced it, perhaps it explains what Israel saw at Sinai when there were "thunderings" (Ex19:16) and "the whole mountain quaked greatly" (19:18) and even though Moses was telling the people to not be afraid (Ex20:20), he, himself, apparently was terrified, "And so formidable was the sight that Moses said, I am in terror and trembling." (Heb12:21)

This week of earth rumblings in Spokane hasn't been a big enough event to make national news. Indeed, depending upon where a person is in the Spokane vicinity, many in this area are not even much aware of it. The rumblings follow certain geological formations, and it seems that where I live is three blocks away from where it rumbles through, and my store happens to sit practically right on top of some of the activity.

But this activity has got some people thinking. Spokane is supposed to be, essentially, an earthquake-FREE area. In fact, after the initial attacks on Monday, the geologists were needing to bring in seismic equipment from elsewhere, because such equipment didn't exist around here. Up until now, there was never any need for it. On one of the TV reports, a lady who lives practically over the epicenter was interviewed, and she was joking about having talked with relatives in California, that perhaps she needed to move to S.California, to get away from the 'Spokane Earthquakes'.

I have been wondering about something else. The primary concentration of this quake activity is in a part of town where several "christian" (small "c") organizations are located. A couple of them are "hub" to the area. While checking out something on the WWW to see if I could learn of any local "christian" activities, as introduction to one local 75-year old activity that has been resurrected in the past couple of years, I was reading how, not only those who would call themselves "christian survivalists" consider the Spokane area a "safe" place, but also various New Age and witchcraft/wicca organizations have been moving to the area.

You see, folks, everybody knows that God's wrath is about to be poured out on the world. Each entity has their own labels for it all. But they all know that cataclysmic events are about to come on the earth. And some of them are moving to the Spokane area...because Spokane is supposedly a "SAFE" area from all these things. When the western part of the US is supposed to drop off into the Pacific, the new coastline is supposed to end up at around Moses Lake. And the Rocky Mountains are to the east of us. So, this is supposed to be a safe little area nestled in between the 'dangerous' places.

The 'experts' are trying to figure out why the formations in Spokane are shifting. They haven't been aware of any reason for all this. Yes, there is a fault line that runs through. But it has not previously caught their attention.

Well, I can tell you what this is. As the time draws nearer, and these various groups that are in rebellion against God are feeling smug in their "safety", God is giving due notice. "There is no place to hide".

Technology is developing the tools that will assist the antichrist to find anybody who would seek to hide from him, with various X-ray and sonic technology. In fact, pretty much all the technology is in place for him to be unveiled. The big supercomputer is all ready to go. The technology for the beast's "mark" seems to be ready, and is going into production. Those in the financial end of things are ready to go. But even 'they' are looking for -A- global leader to take control. We have noted for the past few years that the whole world is poised and "in need" of a "hero". Some person to step forward to lead them. There is presently NO dynamic global leader. The new US president certainly isn't one! And for all the bluster, even the pope is being shown to not be very effective.

Henry Spaak, who was the founder of the European Common Market, and General Secretary of NATO, said, in one of his speeches: "We don't want another committee, we already have enough of them. What we want is a man of such stature that he be capable to gain the allegiance of peace and politics to pull us out of the economic chaos into which we are sinking. Send us this man, and, be he god or demon, we will welcome him."

The world is poised for this man to be "unveiled". When he makes his appearance, the whole world will welcome him with open arms. "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be unveiled in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work..." And while everything seems to be in place, nothing -quite- takes off. Why? "..only He is now restraining, until He appears from out of the midst". (2Th2:6-7)

What is it all waiting for? For Jesus Christ to make His "appearance". Believers into Jesus Christ are "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Tit2:13) This "appearing" being distinct from "His kingdom" when He comes to reign. (2Tm4:1) The event coined amongst Christians as the "Rapture", when Believers are resurrected and caught up to meet the Lord "in the air" at the "shouted command". (1Th4:16-17)

But for those who reject Christ, God's wrath, which is "revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness," (Rom1:18) Notice it says "all" ungodliness...

Now, if the recent Spokane quakes have shown that Spokane is not a "SAFE" place from God's judgments upon earth, just think of the final judgment. At the "great white throne" it says "the dead, small and great" will appear before God. And even in death, there will be no place to hide: "and the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works." (Rev20:11-13) Jesus spoke of one who causes a child to stumble and be led away into sin, that "it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Mt18:6) But that drowning is not his judgment. Even if the person sunk down into the Mariana Trench, even from there he would be raised up to stand before God. Even a person digested into the body of a shark would be reconstituted. Cremation? Ditto!

Jonah thought to "flee...from the presence of Jehovah" (Jon1:3) But God followed after him. There used to be a song I heard a few times as a child. For all the music on my shelves, I cannot find it in anything I have; although there's a lot about "Jesus CARES", "what a FRIEND we have in Jesus", "fill my cup Lord", "the choice is mine", "what a glorious day that will be". But the one I cannot find, which I'm sure would be much too 'harsh' and 'judgmental' for today's sensitivities, and when you are left and see God's judgments coming and you are in a panic, remember its words; it contained the words...

"..you cannot hide from God.."

But also remember in that day...

"For everyone, whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Rom10:13, Joel2:32)

Amen!