Two high mountains in Asia famously used by trekkers and climbers have been quake damaged with climbers having to be rescued. Both are now inaccessible, with unobtainable heights, their paths to the top having been destroyed by falls due to earthquake. First there was the highest mountain in the world, Everest, then the highest mountain in Malaysia.
We can't help but be awed by the power.
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. (Nahum 1:5-6)
We see a small demonstration of what Nahum is speaking of in the two recent events.
Eleven people have died and eight others are missing after an earthquake near Malaysia's highest peak. The bodies were recovered from Mount Kinabalu, on the island of Borneo, after a 6.0 magnitude quake triggered landslides. Reports say those climbing at the time included nationals from China, the United States, the Philippines, the UK, Thailand, Turkey, and Japan.
The earthquake was so powerful it also snapped off one of Mount Kinabalu's "Donkey's Ear" peaks, Mr Manjun added. Some of the group had climbed to the summit to watch the sunrise as the earthquake struck. The epicentre was 54km (33 miles) from Mount Kinabalu, which stands at 4,095m. The quake also damaged roads and buildings, including schools and a hospital on Sabah's west coast. All activity on the mountain has now been suspended. BBC
The mountain quaked and the hills melted in avalanches and rockfalls. As a result no-one can climb that high mountain, in effect making it 'low'.
There is an interesting aside that 'Kina Balu' translates as 'China widow', and among the killed were children from Singapore. It co-incided in China with a freak tornado emerging with the lightning in a thunderstorm sinking the 'Eastern Star' on the Yangtze, Asia's longest river, in its famous Three Gorges region. China is an area of growth in christianity, yet is an atheist idolatrous nation. China is raised in pride, but yet their Eastern Star sank, indicating that their 'star' may sink. Of interest to us is that there is another Eastern Star as an Eastern Star heralded our Lord's first arrival to those in Babylon, a great place of idolatry.
With the return of our Lord to the earth, the nations
..shall be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. (Isaiah 29:6)
When things happen twice we take notice. In the Bible a twofold reference indicates that a fact or matter is established.
In 2014 there had been an avalanche on 18 April 2014 near the Everest Base Camp that killed sixteen Nepalese guides. They relocated the route. Then during the afternoon of 25 April 2015, a 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal and surrounding nations, centred in Gorkha killing over 8,800. The quake triggered numerous avalanches on Mount Everest. At least twenty two people were killed, many at Everest South base camp. Much of South base camp was destroyed by the avalanche from nearby Mount Pumori, which means 'Unmarried Daughter' in the Sherpa language. The quake also sent mudslides and avalanches where the hills melted into the valleys, one destroyed the village of trekking Langtang on the tourist trekking route killing at least 9 tourists and possibly 200 locals. earthobservatory.nasa.gov
In addition to the China widow, there is the unmarried daughter, both occur most when men are lost at war. We might ponder,
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15-17)
If what was done with small local quakes was awe-ful, indeed who shall stand in that day?
For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isa 2:12-19)
We see these quakes recently causing the idols to fall in Nepal. We see the very high mountains on the earth affected, literally. Yet they stand for the 'high nations' which will be brought down. There is one Gog, like Agag exalted as a great nation that will also be bought low, when the mountains are made low.
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth.
All the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Eze 38:18-23)
There will be physical changes that are mirrored in the political world. Whereas Everest was a great mountain where men would seek to to 'prove themselves' and establish their pride in themselves, instead Jerusalem and its valley will be the great and high mountain, as the things of this age are turned upside down.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isa 40:4-5)
There is to be great good news when Jerusalem is a high mountain.
O Zion, that brings good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. (Isa 40:9-10)
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isa 2:2-3)
From that newly made high mountain of Jerusalem will go forth spiritual streams of living water, and in addition there will be literal water coming from its springs. It is going to be a truly awe inspiring spectacle, and more unforgettable than when Israel left Egypt, for those who enter the kingdom of God! Just picture it, tall buildings on their side, mountains shaking and melting with huge topographic changes with new mountains pouring water, thunder, lightning and huge hail. It is likely the 7 fold sun is symbolic, but if it is reflected in events in the natural world it would be remarkable.
And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: (Isaiah 30:25-27)
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