Time has a way of taking the sting out of memory. Absorbed with the cares and pleasures of life people were still unaware of any connection between these disasters and their defiance of G-d’s laws and covenants. 

The “snare” was set on Sunday, December 26, 2004, at 00:58:53 (UTC) by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the West coast of Northern Sumatra, one of the islands of Indonesia²⁰. Indonesia has the largest percentage of Moslems who, in recent years, have become violently anti-Israel and anti-Christian, killing Christians and burning down homes and churches.

No less than 79,900 people were killed by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia. Tsunamis killed at least 41,000 people in Sri Lanka, 10,000 in India, 4,000 in Thailand, 120 in Somalia, 90 in Myanmar, 66 in Malaysia, 46 in Maldives, 10 in Tanzania, 2 in Bangladesh, 1 in Seychelles and 1 in Kenya. Thousands are still missing, many more wounded, and over 1 million uprooted and made homeless.

While many Christian tourists choose “safe” travel to countries other than Israel and Israelis travel abroad for relief from the "Matzav" (stressful "situation"), in one horrifying instant both Christians and Jews learned that the “terror” and “pressure” in Israel they hoped to escape is miniscule compared to the terror unleashed by the earthquake and tsunami of the force of 100 atomic bombs.

The Son of man, Yeshua HaMashiach, is near, even at the door. His Coming will be in an instant, as sudden and unexpected as the events of Sept. 11, 2001; Feb. 2, 2003; and Dec. 26, 2004. Only those whose hearts and minds are fixed on Him, who are walking in the works the Father prepared in advance for them, and who are occupied with seeking His Kingdom first and His righteousness, will not be taken by surprise.

Salvation void of knowledge and active faith is not enough, as the parable of the 10 virgins makes amply clear. Saints will yet perish because of lack of knowledge.