Asteroids and Revelation 8 - Fact or Fiction?Shooting stars, passing comets, craters and meteor stones are cosmic omens that suggest a catastrophic impact is inevitable and impending. So far, geologists have discovered over one hundred impact craters around the world ranging in size from 3 feet to over 100 miles in diameter. There are many impact craters whose size indicates each stone was large enough to cause, all by itself, global mass extinction. The only time this could have happened, at least according to the biblical record, was during the Great Deluge.
Some Christian scientists believe that a planet once located between Mars and Jupiter exploded about 4500 years ago and may have triggered or contributed to the devastation caused by Noah’s Flood. Such an explosion would also explain the existence of the Asteroid Belt, all the maverick meteors, comets and asteroids crisscrossing our galaxy, and also the millions of impact craters found throughout the galaxy, including those discovered on planet Earth. Even secular scientists believe a “massive asteroid caused the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago.”
Most of the meteors, comets and asteroids, which more than likely occurred at the time of the Flood, are in fixed orbits that pose no threat to our planet. However, there are thousands of known and unknown meteors, comets and asteroids whose orbits do intersect our planetary orbit. Most of these earth-crossing objects are as harmless as shooting stars (small fragments of stone that burn up entering our heavy atmosphere). But there are millions that are capable of causing major damage, and thousands that are large enough to cause mass extinction.
Almost every year scientists discover new earth-crossing objects that are big enough to cause serious global damage. Nearly every year there are “near misses” that are discovered only after the fact. Objects that are large enough to cause widespread devastation are often too small for existing equipment to detect before it’s too late. And even if they were detected early enough, we presently lack the ability to prevent a catastrophic impact. Scientists generally agree that it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when a meteor, asteroid or comet will impact the earth and cause either terrible damage or mass extinction. Even Hollywood and other filmmakers have wasted no time making movies and documentaries graphically depicting what scientists believe is an impending reality.
Oceanic Asteroid Impact Hypothesis
What would happen if a large asteroid were to impact the Pacific Ocean? Depending on its size, shape, constitution and velocity an asteroid about a half-mile in diameter would create a sonic boom loud enough to be heard half way around the world. If it passed through the Jet Stream (wind currents in excess of 200 hundred mph) it’s possible this high-speed wind current would enfold itself (as a scroll when it is rolled together) and spawn gale force gusts, tornadoes and hurricanes. Intense heat would precede the asteroid causing field and forest fires.
Upon impact trillions of tons of vaporized bedrock and water would be thrust into the atmosphere partially obscuring sun, moon and star light causing global cooling, massive hailstones and acid rain (which would contaminate the fresh water supplies). Rings of towering tidal waves (up to 3,000 foot tall) would destroy coastal regions, islands, sea life and ships. Shock waves would trigger oceanic and continental earthquakes. And volcanic eruptions, ash and lava would add to the polluted atmosphere and the devastating field and forest fires.
The shifting, heaving land masses would also cause extensive structural damage to the many thermonuclear reactors causing melt down and lethal radioactive fallout, thus adding to the already contaminated drinking water and other far flung disasters effecting air, land and sea. Humans and animals would experience severe suffering from radiation burns and sickness.
Society would also be drastically effected. Electricity, water, sewer and communications would be seriously disrupted. Shortages of food, water, heat, medical care and sanitation would breed bad health. Disease and pestilence would surpass plague proportions. Looting, rape and murder would replace law and order. Losses would be calculated in the trillions causing national and international economic chaos. The death toll by land and sea would be measured in the millions.
Biblical Description of an Oceanic Asteroid Impact
When Michael the archangel stands up and declares, It is done, the four angels will let blow the four winds of disaster and there shall be a time of trouble unlike anything this old world has ever seen (including Noah’s Flood). Please read Daniel 12:1 and Revelation 7:1. Only those who make Jesus their very best Friend and Saviour will come “out of great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14) alive. “A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right band; but it shall not come nigh thee” Psalm 91:7.
When our heavenly High Priest completes the investigative judgment and casts down the “golden censer” (Revelation 8:2-5) human probation will close. And then the seven trumpets and plagues will be poured out, not upon the earth only, but also upon all those who reject the seal of the living God. These plagues will cause global chaos hitherto unknown. The biblical description of these catastrophic disasters is very similar to those calamities scientists are predicting would occur during a large oceanic asteroid impact. This coincidence is either accidental or no coincidence at all.
“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth. And the third part of trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up” Revelation 8:7. Field and forest fires and hail are all ingredients of an asteroid impact.
“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed” Revelation 8:8,9. Asteroids become huge fireballs on entering our atmosphere, and would indeed resemble a great burning mountain. Certainly many creatures and ships would be destroyed if an asteroid impacted the ocean.
“And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the river’s, and upon the fountain of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter” Revelation 8:10,11. Asteroids interact with atmospheric elements creating acid rain, which would contaminate drinking water.
“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise" Revelation 8:12. Tons of debris would be carried around the world, which would partially obscure sun, moon and star light.
“And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, Lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places” Revelation 6:12-14. Asteroid fragments would fall to earth like thousands of shooting stars. A large asteroid passing through the Jet Stream could cause it to enfold upon itself like a scroll when it is rolled together, which would also cause mighty winds. Tidal waves would move islands, which are the tops of mountains, out of their places and trigger huge oceanic and continental earthquakes.
“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; and the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are corning on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” Luke 21:11,25,26. All these disasters would be associated with an oceanic asteroid impact.
“And there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast” Revelation 16:2. Acid rain and fallout from nuclear reactors damaged by an asteroid impact would cause terrible sores and sickness.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works therein shall be burned up” 2 Peter 3:10. Traveling thousands of miles per hour, asteroids make a supersonic boom or a great noise. An asteroid impact would trigger volcanic eruptions and lava flows, which melt with fervent heat as they burn up everything in their way.
“And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found, and there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent [60 pounds]” Revelation 16:20,21. It would require Jet Stream force winds to generate 60 pound hailstones, which would be possible during a crisis associated with an asteroid impact. (Note: this "great hail" may also be the frozen fragments of a comet).
Conclusion
Miraculous protection is the only way to survive an oceanic asteroid impact like the one described in this study. However, only those who have the seal of God will be miraculously protected during the Great Time of Trouble. And the only way to have the seal of God is to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to imitate the example of Jesus Christ. By beholding Christ, we become Christlike. See 2 Corinthians 3:18. Therefore, it behooves us to - “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: Mike Lowe ]
