At Least Nine Killed in Central U.S. Tornadoes

A series of tornadoes plowed through the American Midwest early Wednesday morning. At least nine people have been reported killed from the storms, and hundreds are injured. Those numbers are expected to increase. Right now, severe storms are thrashing the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, and the threat of tornado outbreaks is ongoing.

At least six people were killed in Harrisburg, Illinois, after a storm leveled large swaths of the town of 9,000 people. A shopping center was smashed to bits, and scores of homes have been badly damaged and destroyed.

Since Tuesday night, at least 16 tornado sightings have been called in from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service said the chance of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes is increasing this afternoon.

The year 2011 went into the record books as the deadliest year for tornadoes since 1953, and, with this year’s early start, 2012 could follow suit.

Along with tornado damage, the U.S. has also suffered significantly worse droughts, wildfires and floods. These disasters devastated around 7 million acres of American land in 2011 alone.

In Leviticus 26, God promises “rain in due season” and the land yielding her increase—but only if we keep His commandments. Although weather may seem chaotic and not subject to anyone’s influence, the truth is that if we followed the laws of the Creator, He would intervene to cause beautiful, stable weather. If we depended on God, we would not experience crop failures, famine, drought or deadly tornadoes.

But Bible prophecy shows that our increasingly chaotic weather is due to get far, far worse. Only after our nations humble themselves and repent will we see the calm after the storm.