Jesus was clear that His people should be able to read the SIGNS- --the very SIGNS that HE HIMSELF was causing . . .

Matt 16:3 . . . You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

THE NEWS REPORTS TODAY--ARE SPEAKING SIGNS FROM HEAVEN OCTOBER 16, 1999
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Here's how CNN reported it on: http://www.cnn.com/US/9910/16/california.quake.06/

JOSHUA TREE, California (CNN) -- A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook millions awake across a large portion of the southwestern United States early Saturday, but caused no serious injuries or major damage.

The quake struck at 2:46 a.m. PDT (5:46 a.m. EDT) in the Mojave Desert about 100 miles east of Los Angeles and was followed by a series of aftershocks with magnitudes as high as 5.8.

The main quake's epicenter was within the Marine base near Twenty-nine Palms. Earlier, seismologists at the California Institute of Technology had placed the epicenter at nearby Hector Mines, 47 miles east-southeast of Barstow, California, and 32 miles north of Joshua Tree, California.
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I was fully aware today of the immense flooding that is taking place on the east coast (as a result of Hurricane IRENE)--- on the other side of the U.S. from the earthquake today.

As I was watching CNN coverage of the earthquake and the corresponding train that was de-railed, I was suddenly aware that the Lord is speaking in SIGNS RIGHT NOW!!

The newscaster was clear that the epicenter of the quake was in the center of a MARINE base near TWENTY-NINE PALMS.
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"HE'S SPEAKING OF PSALMS 29!" I immediately thought.

I'm not given to that many analogies of natural disasters with certain scriptures, but this time, I was instantly connecting the two.

This quake was connected with Psalms 29 (twenty nine Palms). And it was also speaking of Joshua, as it was considered also to be centered around JOSHUA TREE.

So I immediately looked it up. Here's what the Lord said in Psalms 29:

Read this slowly and deliberately . . .

NOTICE THAT IN IT . . . "HE SHAKES THE DESERT!!"

PSALMS 29:1-11 (29 PALMS) CHAPTER 29

Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His Holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the WATERS; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the MIGHTY WATERS. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD BREAKS IN PIECES the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD SHAKES THE DESERT; the LORD SHAKES THE DESERT of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks [sound like an earthquake to you?] and strips the forests bare [sound like a hurricane to you?]. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned OVER THE FLOOD; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE WITH PEACE.

I'm sure I could attempt to "wax eloquent" to you about all of the possible interpretations of these events today. Many of the prophets will be able to see more clearly what I feel the Lord is showing me here. But here it what I'm seeing from THE SIGNS today--- earthquake and flood.

INTERPRETATIONS OF THE TWENTY-NINE PALMS QUAKE AND PSALMS 29:

1. The Lord is over both, earthquake and flood. He is enthroned on them.(verse 10)

2. This is the Joshua generation. The generation and the timing, when those who are brave, will and ARE crossing the Jordan to take the Land back!

3. The Lord is speaking specifically that HE is de-railing the plans of man for His own purposes. (As the Amtrak [American Track] could not hold it's passengers under it own guidance system!) The train (and our train-ing) will need to be thrown off track!

4. From the desert to the sea, He is in charge. He will twist the oak of our understandings of who He is, and He will strip the forests bare of our overall picture of who He is, how He works, and how He saves Sinners. "THE GOD OF GLORY THUNDERS!"

5. In the midst of our own military bases and places of training (even in the Spirit), He will SHAKE US, and show us who is really the ONE who fights our battles.

6. Are you in the desert right now? You are about to be shaken, (even in the desert), because the Lord wants to give you strength and peace!!

7. But the bottom line here? Verse 11 is the bottom line. Though we do not deserve it, and though He has the power to wipe us out, if we will give HIM GLORY, ( "Ascribe to the Lord GLORY AND STRENGTH!") ---then (vs 11):

"The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with Peace."

LET'S ASCRIBE TO THE LORD BOTH GLORY AND STRENGTH! Acknowledge that nothing is too hard for our God! He can shake even your desert to get you off of one track and onto another one. Ask Him to de-rail our own plans and put you on HIS bus to your destination, re-train your hands for war, help us all to be part of Joshua's army that crosses the Jordan to take the Land-- and yet teach us to acknowledge that "the battle is the Lords."

He will then give US --He will give YOU-- strength and He will give us --and He will give YOU Peace!

[Note: I am aware that there is much which can be said about America through these "Signs" with AM-TRACK and the military training base, etc. My primary interest in interpretation, however, is: What is God saying to the church?]

Steve Shultz THE ELIJAH LIST Monmouth, Orgeon