The second F-5 category hurricane within two weeks churns toward the Texas Gulf coast while I write this commentary. Standing in Rita’s path are many oil well edifices, which apparently yield about 25 percent of all oil produced by petroleum companies in the United States. This hurricane could, conceivably, do more to damage America’s economy than did Katrina just a couple of weeks ago. That one might cost more than $200 billion, according to the last estimate I heard. And that cost estimate encompasses only recovery from the physical destruction. The worldwide financial ripples from Katrina are almost incalculable at this point.

Despite the protests that these monstrous storms –coming one right after the other—aren't an opinion being expressed by the Creator of all things, even the secular pundits are saying aloud: “What’s going on?”

Certainly, it is not possible to 100 percent prove that these are expressions of displeasure from Almighty God. It can be argued that America’s dealings with Israel –forcing the Jews to give up land for promised peace—has no bearing on the fact that the elements seem to be screaming a message of forewarning of worse to come. The case can be made that God isn’t in the wind with regard to expressions of anger at America’s turning more and more toward approving homosexuality as societal normalcy and failing to repent of and turn from the murder of 50 million babies in their mothers' wombs.

But, consider: the Holy Scriptures make some pretty interesting points, themselves.

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3).

And Jesus’ words:

“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Lk. 19:40).

Although the former passage is meant primarily for the Tribulation era, and the peace covenant that Antichrist will confirm with Israel and its enemies, and Jesus’ words in the latter passage was to verbally chastise those who would keep the people from crying "Hosanna" while He rode the donkey toward Jerusalem just before His crucifixion, application could be made in the case of God’s opinion being in the sin-laden winds of our time.

America is shouting at Israel that that nation can have “peace and safety” through the "Road Map for Peace," and giving into their enemies’ voracious demands for God’s land. Humanistic powers that be are refusing to acknowledge God in the matters of immorality wrapped up in the issues of homosexuality and abortion. The social engineers are refusing to recognize any supreme authority–with the exception of the U.S. Supreme Court (when it rules their way).

The very elements of nature are “crying out” as Jesus said they would when God is ignored. It is therefore appropriate to put the question: Is God’s cup of wrath at the point of spilling over? Does Hurricane Nicolai churn out in the great gulf of sin where he has been stewing and brewing since Daniel the prophet foretold his coming forth those thousands of years ago, and the prophet John expounded upon his coming while exiled on Patmos centuries later?

“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast” (Rev. 13:1-3).

As you have perhaps surmised, I’ve taken liberty to name this hurricane of apocalypse “Nicolai” to strike a familiar chord with those who have read any or all of Tim LaHaye’s and Jerry B. Jenkins’ “Left Behind” series.

God’s Word calls this beast by many names: the prince that shall come, the man of sin, the king of fierce countenance, the little horn, Antichrist, and others. One thing sure: his reign for a brief period will be more destructive than any physical hurricane or any other catastrophe (with exception of the worldwide flood of Noah’s time) that Planet Earth has ever suffered.

Hurricane Nicolai is on his way, as surely as is Hurricane Rita as I sit pounding this out on my computer keyboard. There is no retreat to places further inland. There is but one escape. His name is Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).