Just days after an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale shook the entire east coast of the United States, forcing governmental officials from their offices in the Pentagon and White House, Americans are once again bracing themselves for possible disaster as Hurricane Irene makes landfall in North Carolina. Although at present a category one storm, Hurricane Irene has still been described as 'large and dangerous', as its path could possibly take it through every major city along the US eastern seaboard. Already over 2 million people have been evacuated from their homes, airports have been closed and the New York transport system shut down, as 85mph winds batter the coastline. The storm has already claimed several lives, and experts believe the surge caused by the strong winds and heavy rains could flood low-lying areas of New York.

Quote: “Some 370,000 city residents were ordered to leave their homes in low-lying areas, many of them in parts of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens and in downtown Manhattan, he said. The hurricane center forecast a storm surge of up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) for Long Island and metropolitan New York when Irene passes on Sunday. That would easily top the flood walls protecting the south end of Manhattan if it comes at high tide around 8 a.m. (noon GMT) on Sunday, hurricane expert Jeff Masters of private forecaster Weather Underground wrote in his blog.

This news comes as the US Administration, and the United Nations, whose headquarters are based in New York, prepare to vote on the establishment of a Palestinian state. While there is some uncertainty as to how far the Palestinian Authority are prepared to go in realizing this goal, whether they will just accept international recognition in the General Assembly or whether they will press for a declaration of independence, there is no doubt a vote will galvanize world opinion if not de-legitimize the state of Israel. Could it be that this latest earthquake, which was the largest to hit the eastern coastline of the United States in decades, and now Hurricane Irene, are a 'shot across the bow' to the international community? Few people will forget the damage that Hurricane Katrina caused following the Israeli disengagement from Gaza. America's most productive heartland was flooded and millions of people were forced to evacuate as Israel's bread basket was handed over to its enemies. Today the international community is preparing to divide God's land and give its 'east coast', its Biblical heartland, into the hands of the Gentiles. Could it be that the nations will soon be reaping the consequences? The Bible predicts that the land of Israel will one day be redivided (Zechariah 14:2). It also predicts that God will bring all nations together against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3), and that He will judge them there for scattering His people and dividing His land.

Joel 3:2
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

That day is fast approaching. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon. Are you ready to meet Him? He is coming for all those who have put their trust in Him, whose sins are forgiven through the blood of the Lamb. Is He coming for you? Don't delay. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Psalm 50:3-5
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

Source Reuters, Reuters