A near asteroid hit and volcanic eruption on Hawaii: Apocalyptic shots across the bow?

Volcanic column of smoke on Hawaii’s Big Island taken May 7, 2018 Credit: macprohawaii/US Geological Survey/Flickr/Public Domain

During the 18^th century, if a naval ship was unable to recognize an oncoming vessel it would fire a warning shot in the general direction of the ship. Under the law of the sea, the ship receiving the shot was expected to hoist its flag so it could be recognized and respond with a shot of its own. It was form of rudimentary communication between ships.

With modern communications equipment, the shot across the bow has taken on a more ominous tone. When naval vessels, such as the coast guard, are pursuing another vessel, they will perform a shot across the bow typically in front of the ship telling it to stop. The shot demonstrates that the fleeing ship is within range, sighted and more importantly the pursuing ship is willing to go the next step if it does not come to heel.

One has to ask if the world just received a shot across the bow. According to the Bible’s apocalyptic literature, the end times will be marked by massive asteroids slamming into the earth causing catastrophic damage and volcanic eruptions.

Last night, a large asteroid whizzed by earth. According to NASA’s Dr Erin Ryan it was “as big across as a city block” ranging in size from 197 feet to 417 feet.

The asteroid passed half way between the moon and earth (126,500 miles out) which in astronomical terms is a hair like miss remembering that if it gets to close, the earth’s gravity could potentially draw it in.

What is disturbing is how close it came. Guy Wells from England’s Northholt Branch Observatories told Newsweek:

“There are many close approaches from asteroids,. Most are very small. Only very few of this size have ever been seen coming closer than the moon.”

This is not the first time that the asteroid known as “2010 WC9” has passed by earth. The last time it appeared was 300 years ago. Over the years, astronomers have been aware of its presence and have been tracking the asteroid as it made its way back to earth.

Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey picked up the comet in 2010, but then lost it and picked it up again in early May as it whizzed by earth on May 15^th.

The Bible’s apocalyptic literature has made repeated warnings of asteroid hits that will cause immense damage on Earth during the end times:

Hitting the sea:

⁸The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, ⁹and a third of the creatures which were in the sea ^[f]and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9 NASV)

And hitting land:

¹⁰The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. ¹¹The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11 NASV)

Thankfully, 2010 WC9 missed. Though not mountain-sized as described in the Book of Revelation, it is considerably bigger than the bus-sized asteroid that exploded high in the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013 shattering glass and injuring 1,500 people.

If this warning shot wasn’t enough, anyone viewing online media has seen photos and videos of the eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on the Big Island. The eruption hasn’t been explosive but vents are appearing all over the island spewing out lava and toxic smoke.

So far it has resulted in the evacuation of 2,000 residents and destruction of 26 homes, 10 buildings and damaged several roads. Many believe this is just the start and is expected that the lava flows could continue for weeks.

In an article in USA Today, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said “I’ve been around a very long time and I know this is different.”

Again the Bible says that volcanoes are also signpost of the end times. The prophet Joel talks about giant columns of smoke on the earth, that are typical of volcanic eruptions:

“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
³¹“The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. (Joel 2:30-31 NASV)

Note how Joel said columns (plural) as in more than one.

The Book of Revelation was probably speaking of volcanic eruptions when it spoke of hail and fire mixed with blood falling on the earth resulting in plants and trees dying off:

⁷The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:7 NASV)

In an article on the Hawaii eruption for USA Today, Trevor Hughes described a similar event when he wrote, “Plumes of poisonous gases accompanying the flows are killing off trees and grasses left untouched by the lava, and health officials warn the gases pose a significant health risk to anyone in the area.”

And there is concern that the eruption on Hawaii’s Big Island could result in more eruptions in the Pacific’s volcanic Ring of Fire, that Hawaii is part of.

The Ring of Fire is made up of 450 volcanoes scattered across the US, South America, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. This includes 13 volcanoes along the US West Coat, but does not include the Super Volcano underneath Yellowstone Park, that heats Old Faithful.

Volcanoes and asteroids are considered end-times sign posts from a Biblical perspective, however, could they be more accurately described as “shots across the bow?”

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