Devastation in the Philippines.

Typhoon Haiyan (Typhoon Yolanda) slammed into the central Philippines last Friday killing more than 2,000 people and inflicting damage on more than 41 provinces (Associated Press, November 11, 2013; November 14, 2013). More than 9.7 million Filipinos—about 10 percent of the entire population—have been affected by “the most powerful storm on record to strike the Philippines” (Bloomberg, November 11, 2013). Total damage could reach $14 billion—only $2 billion of which is insured. Sadly, the typhoon struck less than four weeks after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the Philippines (ibid.).

The devastation and need for food, water and shelter should move all Christians to cry out to God for His mercy and intervention.  Because mankind is turning away from God, super-disasters like Typhoon Haiyan are prophesied to increase at the end of the age. Jesus spoke of “the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25), of powerful “earthquakes in diverse places” (v. 11) and that these would just be “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).

Human beings have forgotten that God exists and that He controls the weather and that He uses it to fulfill His will. For more information on this topic, read our free booklet, Who Controls the Weather?