Cyclone Sidr caused massive devastation across Bangladesh today, as winds of up to 155 miles per hour lashed the country for a second day. The storm measured around 300 miles in diameter when it first hit the coastline at around 9:30pm last night. The strong winds brought with them fifteen foot tidal waves, and brought down the national grid plunging much of the nation into darkness. The power failure caused problems in transportation, water supplies and communications. Around 3.2 million people have fled their homes, and 1100 people are feared dead with many more missing.

Quote: "At least 1,100 people in Bangladesh were killed, the Associated Press said today, citing the United News of Bangladesh. At least 1,000 fishermen were missing, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said today in an e-mailed statement. Some 3.2 million people fled to the country's highlands or went to shelters, the UN agency said. "Damage will be extremely severe,'' John Holmes, the UN's coordinator of emergency relief, told reporters in New York. "The entire country has been affected. The main needs will be for food, shelter and health care.''

It's not easy commenting on natural disasters such as this, especially when much life has been lost. As Christians, we simply point to these events as fulfilment of prophecy. We do not glory in chaos, nor like Iranian President Ahmadinejad do we think that these events will somehow hasten the coming of our Lord. But these events are an indicator of how close we are to the Lord's coming, and we seek to warn others to turn to the Lord before it is too late. These are simply "birth pangs" or warning signs of what is about to take place (1st Thessalonians 5:3). On one occasion the disciples asked the Lord about the tower of Siloam, which had fallen on eighteen people and killed them outright. Jesus asked if they thought these unfortunate people were greater sinners than everyone else in Jerusalem (Luke 13:4). The Lord said they weren't, but then added, "unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish". Likewise our message to you is the same. The world stands on the edge of a precipice. End time prophecy is falling into place on a daily basis. It is no longer possible to put off being saved for another time. Time is one luxury we don't have. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation", 2nd Corinthians 6:2. Turn to Jesus Christ for salvation today. 

Luke 21:25-26
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Source Bloomberg