Is the Oil Spill in the Gulf Predicted in the Bible?

It has come to my attention that many people believe that the Book of Revelation accurately predicts the recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While it is possible, it is certainly not likely.


Those who believe that the BP Oil Spill was predicted use Revelation 8:8-9 as their source, which says, "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 to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."


The supporters say that pictures from the Gulf of Mexico make the oil spill appear reddish - to look like blood. They say that many boats have been destroyed, and that many sea creatures have already died off. They also claim that John the Apostle, who wrote the Book sometime between 95-96 AD on the Isle of Patmos, to him, the Oil Rig would have looked like a "huge mountain, all ablaze."


However, there are several inconsistencies with this idea. For one, John would have known what a Mountain looked like. He also knew what blood looked like - as a follower of Jesus at the time, he would have seen a lot of it spilled. 


If John saw a "Huge Mountain," it was probably something that appeared to be a Mountain. Meaning, if it "fell" into the ocean, it is probably a meteor, or a volcano that spews "fire." If the Ocean was blood, John would have known it to be blood - he had seen blood in the water before.


But that is not all. Even if John did not know what the aforementioned things were, there are several events which must occur first. Revelations 8:8 tells of the "second angel [who] sounded his trumpet." This is the SECOND Trumpet Judgment. 


This event does not occur until after the First, which happens after the 7 Seal Judgments. There are 3 Different Judgments, which all occur in a specific order: The 7 Seal Judgments, the 7 Trumpet Judgments, and then the 7 Bowl/Vial Judgments. The BP Oil Spill in the Gulf cannot be the 2nd Trumpet Judgment. Why?


The 7 Seal Judgments have not occurred yet. The Rapture, which occurs before all the Judgments, before the 7-Year Tribulation, has NOT occurred yet. Even if these events had happened, the FIRST Trumpet Judgment has not yet occurred. This must happen before the "Huge Mountain" falls into the Ocean.


What is the 1st Trumpet Judgment? Revelation 8:7 says, "The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees burned up, and all the green grass burned up."


Now, I do not know about you, but this event does not sound familiar. It hasn't happened yet. It MUST happen before the second angel blows its trumpet. The Seven Seals, the Rapture, the Antichrist being appointed leader of the World, a 7-Year Peace Treaty with Israel, even the first Global Earthquake (none of this has happened yet. These must all happen BEFORE the Trumpet Judgments.


Has any of this happened yet? No. So, is the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico a fulfillment of Revelation? Not likely. While the Oil Spill is not predicted in Revelation, it is a sign that things are getting worse, globally - but it is not predicted, as aforementioned, in Revelation.


I thought I should clarify that for those who have asked. While the Oil Spill itself was not predicted in Revelation, from the Bible Prophecies we can clearly see that many signs that were told would be shown in the End Times before the Rapture - have already happened. 


We know that the End of Days are near, and people across the world can feel it, right down to their souls. (For more on the Signs of the End Times, click here. For more on the Judgments that occur during the 7-Year Tribulation, click here.)


I hope this has helped clear this up. The next lesson will be on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, (Daniel 3) and how, even to this day, God carries us through the fire, If we'll let him - he rescues us from the flames - and helps us through the hard times in life, if we only let him in and see that things, while not always the best, are always better with God on our side. Take Care, and God Bless. Troy Hillman