Image Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

Manila, Philippines - The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported Super Typhoon Haiyan, which made landfall in the Philippines on Thursday, may have carried a world record for strength.

Certainly one of the greatest storms on record, undoubtedly the strongest to hit the Philippines, slammed the central Philippines on Friday, leaving at least 100 known dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.

The death toll will not be known for a period of time, in that communications have been cut off in the worst hit areas.

About 750,000 people were evacuated in preparation for the coming onslaught, which undoubtedly saved the lives of hundreds, or possibly thousands.

Heavy trees were felled by the storm and landslides have blocked roads, causing a delay in relief supplies for certain areas.

Thousands of residents were evacuated from tents providing temporary shelter since the 7.2 earthquake devastation hit last month.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center placed Haiyan’s sustained winds at 315 kph (196 mph) just before landfall on Thursday, but Tokyo and the Philippines recorded 235 kph (147 mph) winds. It will take some time to formulate an accurate assessment. Max Mayfield, former director of the US National Hurricane Center, told the Associated Press on Friday, “It will easily be one of the strongest on record.”

We continue to see record-breaking storms hit various places worldwide, as the Day of the Lord approaches. The Word of God tells us,

“Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to earth with the hand” Isaiah 28:2.

The Word of God tells us concerning the last days,

"Great earthquakes shall be in diverse places and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven" Luke 21:11.

There are numerous scriptures in the Bible that tell us we will see disasters, signs in heaven, pestilences, earthquakes and famines in the last days. These are wake-up calls to the world that the Lord will soon return and we need to be ready.

Let's pray for those affected, that if they haven't received Jesus as their Savior, they will pray and receive the Lord and trust God for provision. Let's pray for their needs to be met and that they will give thanks to God and live for Him, until He returns for His people. 

The prophet Joel wrote concerning the last days, when darkness would come upon the earth,

"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn even to Me with all of your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He repents of the evil" Joel 2:12-13.

Are you prepared for the Lord’s imminent return? If not, please visit the How Can I Be Saved page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.