" The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it.
" Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him!" ( Nahum 1:5- 6 ) ESV
INTRODUCTION
A. The threats of volcanic eruptions in June, 2023 made people ask: Are these signs of God's warnings?
1. Mayon Volcano in Albay had been spewing smoke and had been rumbling..creating fear and panic among the people in nearby towns.
2. Meanwhile, in Batangas, Taal Volcano had been acting strangely also...producing similar reactions.
B. In this lesson, we shall know the truth about volcanic eruptions and their meanings, John 8:32
1. What are volcanic eruptions? Why do they happen?
2. Does God use volcanic eruptions to send messages to mankind?
3. Will God use volcanic eruptions to destroy this physical world?
4. What shall we do in response to God's warnings?
DISCUSSION
A. What are Volcanic Eruptions? Why do they happen?
1. Deep within the Earth is so hot that some rocks slowly melt and become thick flowing substance called " magma."
2. Ligther than solid rock, magma collects in chambers and rises to the earth's surface.
3.The magma or " molten rock" pushes through vents and fissures to the earth's surface.
4.Melting happens when tectonic plates are pulling apart or where one plate is pushed down under another
5. Magma or molten rock that has erupted is called " lava!"
6. Explosive volcanic eruptions blast out clouds of hot tephra and race down mountainsides.
7. Hot volcanic materials mix with water from streams or melted snow and ice form " mudflows" called lahars can bury entire communities located near erupting volcanoes.
B. Does God Use Volcanic Eruptions To Send Messages to Mankind?
1. Volcanoes are often trigerred and accompanied by earthquakes as stated by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 resulting to " famines, pestilences and earthquakes."
2. In Isaiah 29:6, the prophet wrote that God's punishment would be in " flames of devouring fire."
3. In Joel 2:1-2, the prophet predicted that " before Christ's return, there will be catastrophic events" similar to " volcanic eruptions."
4. God said in Deuteronomy 32:21-22, " My anger..shall set on fire the foundations of the mountains."
5. When the 6th seal opened, " the heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place," Revelation 6:12-14
6. Jesus in Luke 21:36 said, " Watch and pray that you may be able to escape from what shall happen and to stand before the Son of Man."
C. Will God Use Volcanic Eruptions To Destroy This Physical World?
1. In 2 Peter 3:10, we read that " The Day of the Lord will come..in which the heavens shall pass away with a loud noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent HEAT, the EARTH also and the works therein shall be burned up."
a. " The loud noise, the fervent heat and the earth burned up" are descriptions fitted for volcanic eruptions.
b. These things shall take place when the Day of the Lord comes
2. In Revelation 8:7, we read that when the 1st angel sounded the trumpet, " a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees and all the green grass were burned up."
3. Again, in 2 Peter 3:7, we read " But the heaven and the earth have been kept by His word.
They will be kept until they are to be destroyed by fire...kept until the day men stand before God and sinners will be destroyed."
a. God destroy the earth using His supernatural powers.
b. Or He will the natural elements of the earth like " earthquakes and volcanic eruptions."
D. What Shall We Do in Response to God's Warings?
1. In Matthew 24:6-7, we read.." Do not be frightened for these things must take place, but the END is not yet..in various places, there will be famines and earthqukes."
a. Volcanic Eruptions can be caused or triggered by earthquakes.
b. They are warnings ONLY and not the END of this world yet.
c. In Mark 13:8 renders it as " these things are only the beginning of birth pangs."
2. In Deuteronomy 6:14-15, we read " You shall NOT follow other gods ( idols, artifacts and relics included ) for God is a jealous God.
Otherwise, the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled against you and He wIll wipe you off from the face of the earth."
3. Warning the Israelites when they would enter Canaan, God said, " the graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire..for it is an abomination to the Lord your God," Deuteronomy 7:25
4. " Do not be idolaters, as some of them were..and twenty three thousand fell in one day," I Corinthians 10:7-11
5. In I John 5:21, the apostle John wrote" little children, guard yourselves from idols."
6. In 2 Peter 3:11, the apostle wrote " since all these things are thus to be DISSOLVED, what sort of peopl ought you to be in lives of HOLINESS and GODLINESS!"
CONCLUSION
A. Jesus invites everyone to come to Him for spirtual rest NOW, Matthew 11:28-30
1. Believe and be baptized to be saved, Mark 16:16
2. Repent and Be Baptized for forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38
B. The time to act is NOW, the acceptable time
1. Today is the Day of Salvation, 2 Corinthians 6:2
2. When Christ returns, He will take vengeance on " those who do not KNOW God and those who do not obey the gospel, " 2 Thes.1:8