BP Oil Spill Crisis...Sign of the times?

[Joshua27]

The Second Trumpet Sounds - Revelation 8:8-9 (NIV)

8. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

9. a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The Second Bowl (Vial) Poured - Revelation 16:3 (NIV)

3. The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.

---

Thirty-five days ago one of BP’s oil refineries exploded of shore at sea. It was a massive explosion (a burning column of fire at sea) that killed 15 workers. For 35 days, oil at approx. 3million gallons per day has been hemorrhaging into the golf of mexico. For 35 days, the oil spill has been growing, surfacing and spreading towards land, with no end to the hemorrhaging in sight.

Since the spill began marine life has been dying: dolphins have been washed to shore dead, tainted brown, Pelicans coated with oil are pictured shivering until dead after diving into the water for food (as the oil counteracts their insulation), crabs - during this their mating season - are washing up to shore dead, and many more sea life dying each day. The oil is quickly finding its way into the streams and rivers of the gulf. Soon the oil will hit the warm current of the gulf and travel north through the atlantic to the eastern shores.

Tonight, I just watched a TV news correspondant say, “It looks like the red sea!” So I performed a Google (image) search of “BP oil spill” pics and - true enough - the oil as contrasted with the blue sea water looks red like blood.

Is this a coincidence? Sign of the times? What do you think?

 

[lax16]

The Second Trumpet Sounds - Revelation 8:8-9 (NIV)

8. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood,

9. a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

The Second Bowl (Vial) Poured - Revelation 16:3 (NIV)

3. The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.

---

Thirty-five days ago one of BP’s oil refineries exploded of shore at sea. It was a massive explosion (a burning column of fire at sea) that killed 15 workers. For 35 days, oil at approx. 3million gallons per day has been hemorrhaging into the golf of mexico. For 35 days, the oil spill has been growing, surfacing and spreading towards land, with no end to the hemorrhaging in sight.

Since the spill began marine life has been dying: dolphins have been washed to shore dead, tainted brown, Pelicans coated with oil are pictured shivering until dead after diving into the water for food (as the oil counteracts their insulation), crabs - during this their mating season - are washing up to shore dead, and many more sea life dying each day. The oil is quickly finding its way into the streams and rivers of the gulf. Soon the oil will hit the warm current of the gulf and travel north through the atlantic to the eastern shores.

Tonight, I just watched a TV news correspondant say, "It looks like the red sea!" So I performed a Google (image) search of “BP oil spill” pics and - true enough - the oil as contrasted with the blue sea water looks red like blood.

Is this a coincidence? Sign of the times? What do you think?

Wow - I don’t think it is a coincidence. I am so disturbed by this event that I can’t read about it or watch it on T.V.

I think the red (blood) stands for:

The death of God’s beautiful creation…
The reminder that history does repeat itself…
The greed of man…
The blood shed by Jesus on Whom we depend on His Mercy to deliver us from death and destruction…
The prayer for God’s deliverance from our own destructive ways…

Oh, Jesus, save us from ourselves!

 

[benidict]

exxon valdeez other oil spills etc. not to mention, oil seeps up from the ocean floor all on its own. yes its a bad thing. but a sign of the end? the ocean will clean itself up along with our help. bad for the wild life in this area. it would be nice if we could go to an alternative energy source. i just do not see it as a sign of the end times or one of the angels trumpets. now if we are in the birthpangs predicted?..yes id agree with you there. Peace

 

[Soldier_X]

I’m currently living in Alabama, and I know firsthand of people whose lives have been ruined by this - legendary seafood restaurants closing down, local businesses that are gone and won’t ever be back, people getting out of Mobile and Gulf Shores but unable to find work since there’s been no economic recovery around here (despite what the news would have you believe). Certainly for them, this feels like the end of the world.

 

[benidict]

I’m currently living in Alabama, and I know firsthand of people whose lives have been ruined by this - legendary seafood restaurants closing down, local businesses that are gone and won’t ever be back, people getting out of Mobile and Gulf Shores but unable to find work since there’s been no economic recovery around here (despite what the news would have you believe). Certainly for them, this feels like the end of the world.

you have my prayers my friend. i love alabama.been there many times. lovely state. to hear this saddens me. this must be a serious blow. peace

 

[Theodora]

I was watching the Bill O’reilley show tonight where he was of the opinion that neither BP nor Pres. Obama know what to do to clean up this oil spill.

I was wondering why the oil can not just be burned off. If the burning will cause air pollution then my question is which one is worse: the pollution of the ocean or that of the air? I assume the ocean winds will disperse the smoke in many directions over the open sea.

The oil is now creating havoc on many shores to wild life and their vegetation, and presumable also human life.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on this?

 

[Monte_RCMS]

We need to ask the following question:

WHY was BP drilling in water that is ONE MILE DEEP?

The reason is that our Federal government [in part due to laws and rules put in place by our Congress] refused to allow the oil companies to drill in shallower water.

It is easier to drill and to work in shallow water.

We have a LOT of oil in Alaska, but our Congress will not allow the oil companies to drill for it. We already have a major pipeline in Alaska and it works well, but is only running at half capacity. It needs to be connected to the new oil fields with a connector about 70 miles long. That connector could be built in six months. It takes one month for one rig to drill one well. So oil is available from easier sources, but our government has said “NO!”

Up in Montana, there is a LOT of natural gas, but our government has said “NO!” to that as well.

The United States has all kinds of energy resources that are relatively easy to develop, but our government has said “NO!”.

We get about 22% of our electricity from nuclear. France [FRANCE!!] using U.S. reactor designs gets 80% of ITS electricity from nuclear. Why? Because France is pushing energy independence and the U.S. government has encouraged people who do not favor energy independence. Our government can issue all the proclamations and declarations it wants, but if they keep focusing on wind and solar which at best generate about 1% of our electricity and will take another hundred years to increase to 50%, then we will be forced to go to more difficult places to get energy that is essential for life.

Keep in mind that the whole world is not having these oil spill crises. Brazil is drilling in the ocean as fast as it can. China and Vietnam and other countries are drilling in deep water … in the GULF OF MEXICO!

These other folks are not being slowed down.

The BP oil spill issue is a major problem, but it is not a crisis. Not a sign of the times.

There have been some interesting television programs about railroads. A hundred years ago, train crashes were killing THOUSANDS of people each year. Many of the deaths were due to SCALDING. But we didn’t ban trains. We designed better trains.

There was a movie that sold a lot of tickets: “TITANIC”. More than a thousand people died when that great ship sank. But we didn’t ban ocean liners. We built better ships.

But, after the movie, “China Syndrome” and the messy handling of Three Mile Island, we have pretty much banned building new nuclear power reactors.

Keep in mind that OTHER countries have decided to move ahead with new nuclear reactor construction. AND other countries are moving ahead with coal burning electric generators; I read somewhere that China is building one coal burning plant each week on average.

What the United States is doing is basically surrendering to emotional responses and by doing so we are surrendering to economic warfare. Take a look at the CV of the people who are doing the raising the ruckus. There are people and organizations out there that are simply opposing everything. We give them humorous names: NIMBY and BANANA. But these folks generate emotional arguments.

We need to look at how we have approached problems in the past and apply those approaches to the oil spill /deep water drilling as well.

Airplanes have gotten safer.

We can develop safer ways to drill for oil, as well.

 

[MarkBrown]

I’m currently living in Alabama, and I know firsthand of people whose lives have been ruined by this - legendary seafood restaurants closing down, local businesses that are gone and won’t ever be back, people getting out of Mobile and Gulf Shores but unable to find work since there’s been no economic recovery around here (despite what the news would have you believe). Certainly for them, this feels like the end of the world.

I live on the Gulf Coast. Have for 17 years. The oil spill is not causing what you are reporting. This has been going on for over 2 years due to stupid politicans and the locals putting all their economic eggs in one basket. Economically the Gulf Coast from Mobile to Destin and beyond is hurting because we have nothing to depend on for jobs except the tourist and the Military. At least Mobile is trying to bring in factories and business.

Since the explosion, seems we have forgotten those who died in our efforts to make BP a bunch of villians, we have been subjected to constant chicken little reporting of the media.
So far, no oil on beaches in Mississippi to Florida. Was just there this weekend. Beautiful white beaches. Was suppose to be here 2-3 weeks ago. LA is starting to see it. According to the Coast Guard, they are satisfied that BP is doing all it can to stop the flow.

It has been the “end of the world” on the Gulf Coast for years. Back in the 90’s there was a lack of decent jobs. My children already know, and have known for years, that they will have leave the Gulf Coast if they want jobs that will support their families. Tourism is down due to the economy. The military is moving jobs out, jobs are scarce. No industry, unless you count Taco Bell as a good career move. Again Alabama is doing better than Florida and our problems are not due to the oil spill of BP. But our own short sightedness and laziness.

Fr.Mark

 

[MarkBrown]

I was watching the Bill O’reilley show tonight where he was of the opinion that neither BP nor Pres. Obama know what to do to clean up this oil spill.

I was wondering why the oil can not just be burned off. If the burning will cause air pollution then my question is which one is worse: the pollution of the ocean or that of the air? I assume the ocean winds will disperse the smoke in many directions over the open sea.

The oil is now creating havoc on many shores to wild life and their vegetation, and presumable also human life.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on this?

prevailing winds would bring it to shore. Besides re-directing the oil to waiting tankers, BP is using chemicals to contain and clear up the oil. Though an innovative idea by some farmers in the panhandle has been pitched to the Feds to use hay to gather the oil. The tests performed were good enough to convience at least one county in the panhandle, I think Santa Rosa, to use this hay if the oil ever comes our way. The tests showed how the oil would adhere to the hay and could be gathered either at sea or on the tide line.
Of course, since a couple of “rednecks” thought of it, the Fed and such are not interested.

Fr. Mark

 

[Joshua27]

::snip::

It has been the “end of the world” on the Gulf Coast for years.

::snip::

You make interesting points…but to the point I’ve isolated above; I think it’s easy to assume that “the end times” occurs in one fell swoop (such as 1 year or whatever). I’m not saying you’re making this assumption now, but (indeed) what if “the end times” have already started to occur? Who says it wouldn’t happen slowly - spread over many, many years - like we’re seeing?

Benedict also made an equally interesting observation in his first post, which says that we are in the ‘birthpangs’…which would also signify “the end times”, because “birthpangs” either means a countdown to the Second Advent or a countdown to the final gathering of the Saints, both of which occur “at the end”.

---

As far as chemicals (like dispersants), IDK…I think it would be better to keep the oil and water separate. If we treat the oil so that its structure breaks down, that would only make it easier to mix with - and travel with - sea water…after which there is no option to separate it. Now I know that our rivers and streams act as natural filtration mechanisms, but it would seem that such a move would make our nation’s drinking water even less safe…maybe make the natural filtration mechanisms (including marshland, flora, etc.) more flamable, or kill them altogether?

 

[Soldier_X]

I live on the Gulf Coast. Have for 17 years. The oil spill is not causing what you are reporting. This has been going on for over 2 years due to stupid politicans and the locals putting all their economic eggs in one basket. Economically the Gulf Coast from Mobile to Destin and beyond is hurting because we have nothing to depend on for jobs except the tourist and the Military. At least Mobile is trying to bring in factories and business.

Since the explosion, seems we have forgotten those who died in our efforts to make BP a bunch of villians, we have been subjected to constant chicken little reporting of the media.
So far, no oil on beaches in Mississippi to Florida. Was just there this weekend. Beautiful white beaches. Was suppose to be here 2-3 weeks ago. LA is starting to see it. According to the Coast Guard, they are satisfied that BP is doing all it can to stop the flow.

It has been the “end of the world” on the Gulf Coast for years. Back in the 90’s there was a lack of decent jobs. My children already know, and have known for years, that they will have leave the Gulf Coast if they want jobs that will support their families. Tourism is down due to the economy. The military is moving jobs out, jobs are scarce. No industry, unless you count Taco Bell as a good career move. Again Alabama is doing better than Florida and our problems are not due to the oil spill of BP. But our own short sightedness and laziness.

Fr.Mark

Just telling what I know from friends in Mobile. Not interested in arguing at all.

 

[Joshua27]

I was watching the Bill O’reilley show tonight where he was of the opinion that neither BP nor Pres. Obama know what to do to clean up this oil spill.

I was wondering why the oil can not just be burned off. If the burning will cause air pollution then my question is which one is worse: the pollution of the ocean or that of the air? I assume the ocean winds will disperse the smoke in many directions over the open sea.

The oil is now creating havoc on many shores to wild life and their vegetation, and presumable also human life.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on this?

Considering the situation; that the oil is still gushing forth, I think it would be a bad idea simply because the fire wouldn’t stop until its fuel is consumed (the oil). This would litterally create a “lake of fire” that is free to travel over top of the water to wherever the current takes it; free to consume whatever it pleases along the way…plus the smoke and pollution wouldn’t end.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

When there was a railroad safety “crisis” … a rash of nasty accidents that killed a lot of people … the response was by the railroad industry and the suppliers and vendors and enthusiasts and scientists and engineers who put their energy to solving the many problems.

Westinghouse invented the air brake. Amazing innovation.

And the problems with poor quality rail tracks was solved by a man named Sperry who became very wealthy because of his many inventions.

trainweb.org/elso/SPERRY.HTM

The government had nothing to do with it because the government bureaucrats didn’t know anything.

 

[Sam_777]

This oil disaster reminds me our failure as humans.:yup:

We can’t even stop that leak after all these years of technology evolution.

That’s assures me that no matter what we do, no matter what we invent, and no matter how rich we are, WE STILL NEED GOD IN OUR LIFE.

We need YHWH’s Word to say to this oil leak STOP, and it surely will…:heaven:

 

[Monte_RCMS]

This oil disaster reminds me our failure as humans.:yup:

We can’t even stop that leak after all these years of technology evolution.

That’s assures me that no matter what we do, no matter what we invent, and no matter how rich we are, WE STILL NEED GOD IN OUR LIFE.

We need YHWH’s Word to say to this oil leak STOP, and it surely will…:heaven:

The oil companies didn’t WANT to drill that far from shore and in water a mile deep.

However, lawsuits by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups forced the oil companies out of the shallow water and into deep water.

 

[BryanM27]

I do not believe this to be a sign of the end times. If it is, then so be it. But I will believe in the signs of the end times when our Lord, Jesus Christ, returns. Until that day I refuse to get caught up in guessing at when the world is ending. It is not for us to know.

As for the oil in Alaska, I’m assuming you’re referring to ANWR? Geological studies have shown that it does not contain enough to help with our current situation. By the time we are able to get to it and to refine it, costs will rise by more than it would save us at the pump simply due to inflation.

Add to that the fact that the oil we do get from Alasks is shale oil, and thus more difficult and expensive to refine, and you begin to see why we would rather use oil from other sources.

The only part about it that bothers me is that we export almost 40 percent of the oil we do produce here in the United States. Anybody see a problem with that?

 

[edwest2]

It’s a sign of incompetence - nothing more. The military has offered to help but the government is letting BP alone. Too bad. We – the average poster here – can do nothing about the situation.

Personally, I say bring in military equipment and do it now. They have deep-water capability.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Monte_RCMS]

I do not believe this to be a sign of the end times. If it is, then so be it. But I will believe in the signs of the end times when our Lord, Jesus Christ, returns. Until that day I refuse to get caught up in guessing at when the world is ending. It is not for us to know.

As for the oil in Alaska, I’m assuming you’re referring to ANWR? Geological studies have shown that it does not contain enough to help with our current situation. By the time we are able to get to it and to refine it, costs will rise by more than it would save us at the pump simply due to inflation.

Add to that the fact that the oil we do get from Alasks is shale oil, and thus more difficult and expensive to refine, and you begin to see why we would rather use oil from other sources.

The only part about it that bothers me is that we export almost 40 percent of the oil we do produce here in the United States. Anybody see a problem with that?

When Alaska first began producing oil up on the North Slope they said the same kinds of things. All of them were proven wrong. Alaska is still producing and shipping oil.

The information you are stating is misleading. The reason we export oil is that different oils are located in different places; it’s not all the same. The United States also has the Jones Law which requires that interstate water shipments be made with U.S. ships. The U.S. doesn’t have any LNG tankers, for example. Alaska natural gas is shipped to Japan and has been for 40 years. Just as an example of misinformation.

 

[BryanM27]

When Alaska first began producing oil up on the North Slope they said the same kinds of things. All of them were proven wrong. Alaska is still producing and shipping oil.

The information you are stating is misleading. The reason we export oil is that different oils are located in different places; it’s not all the same. The United States also has the Jones Law which requires that interstate water shipments be made with U.S. ships. The U.S. doesn’t have any LNG tankers, for example. Alaska natural gas is shipped to Japan and has been for 40 years. Just as an example of misinformation.

Yeah. 90 percent of statistics are made up lol

 

[Monte_RCMS]

I checked around several sources.

As near as I can tell, all of your information is totally erroneous. So, if you believe it to be correct, please provide sources. If the situation is as you describe it, then you shouldn’t have any problem providing copious backup for your statements.

heritage.org/Research/Lecture/Oil-Shale-Toward-a-Strategic-Unconventional-Fuels-Supply-Policy