On September 14, 1985, at 7:17 A.M., a Richter magnitude 8.1 earthquake occurred on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
I may never know why, but instantly I knew I must return to Mexico.
I packed up the car thinking I'd drive all the way, until I saw a sign that read Aero Puerto, and decided to fly.
I took along an evangelist friend who I thought would help me dig through the rubble to rescue survivors.
When we arrived, he was useless to help, but supportive in spirit.
I tunneled through the debris looking for survivors.
I many people of all ages, but they were all dead.
One baby looked so alive that I actually tried to wake it up.
I jack-hammered holes in some of the buildings and crawled through cave-like openings in others.
In most of the rooms, the ceilings were now only as high as the bed frames that were holding them up.
All you could see from under the beds were the blood stained mattress of someone's body trapped inside.
The hospital and most of the city was built of concrete, and that makes for a very heavy, non-flexible structure.
The high-rise buildings crumbled, and the heavy guage rebar looked like twisted steel wool.
Mexico city is built like jello, causing the tall buildings to sway to the point of no return.
Jesus said that in the last days we would hear of wars and rumors of wars, and there would be earthquakes in different places.
The sea and the waves will roar and men's hearts will fail them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth.
"All these things are the beginning of sorrows" Matthew 24:8.
John said in Revelation 6:12, "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood."
It is the wine of the wrath of God, the cup of His indignation for those who worship other gods.
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb" Revelation 14:10.
Mistaken Identity
When we arrived at the airport in Mexico City, we were taken by police escort to meet government officials that thought we were someone important; and we were, so we just went with it.
They were convinced that we were sent on a mission to help them, which was true-God sent us.
We are his representatives wherever we go.
Thet took us to their endangered subway.
We were put in charge of a hundred men, and all the heavy equipment that we needed to save the subway. (note: Pastor Tilson is a building contractor by trade.)
I am pretty good when it comes to operating heavy equipment, so at first I decided to tackle the task; but my heart was with the children.
After several meetings, I convinced them that the children's hospital was my target.
They took me to see the structural specifications and floor plans, so we could locate the rooms that were most likely to have children trapped inside.
By now my friend had gone home and I was alone.
They assigned me a soldier with a machine gun to stand guard over me all night while I slept.
Our mistaken identity in this case was the reverse of gossip and slander.
We were greeted with respect, as honorable men, sent to help them.
What they heard about us was good, and we were treated accordingly, even though what they heard may or may not be true.
Since we live in such an age of deception, it is wise to guard your heart against making assumptions based upon the opinions and preconcieved ideas of others.
A Guardian Angel
I saw too much death, and on the night before I left for home, I began to tremble and shake.
I didn't know what was happening to me.
At first I seemed almost unaffected by so much death, and now I was a basket-case.
I was shaking, thinking of how I missed my wife and son.
Would I ever see them again?
Was this the end of the world?
I was in a hotel room with the door shut and locked.
I didn't hear anyone come in or go out of my room; however, at my lowest point of distress, a lady in white put her arms around me and held me.
I think she was an angel, or a nun.
Her hug stayed with me for days-it strengthened me.
All through the Bible you read of angels touching humans, Old and New Testament.
They see us and watch over us, and at times we see them.
Their ministry is usually hidden behind the scenes but always constant on behalf of God's people.
Angels are eye-witness to the unlimited resources of heaven, and are ministering spirits.
'Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14.
The Bible says, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" Psalm 91:11.
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