Dear Doves,

 

The story of the Titanic sinking has some close parallels to the Biblical plan of salvation. Just as the great pleasure ship struck an iceberg and sank, this great world?witth all its inhabitants?is slowly sinking into the cold grip of death[1].

 

As with the Titanic, where only those passengers who believed that they were in impending danger looked to the lifeboats, so only those who believe that they are in mortal danger will look to the Lifeboat of the Savior, Jesus Christ. The great “iceberg” that will take the world to an icy grave is the Moral Law?the Ten Commandments[1].

 

The Titanic facts are listed below and the elapsed times from planning to sinking (3 years, 8 months) made me wonder if the future dates (March 31, 2009, May 31, 2009, April 11, 2009) will have significance. Note how July 29, 2008 (day of Titanic planning completion) was the day of the Los Angeles 5.4 earthquake.

 

On July 29, 1908, the planning of the Titanic was finished and the ship was constructed beginning with the keel laying for hull 401 on March 31, 1909(see gematria of Hebrew Alpha-Omega at center of Genesis 1:1). The ship, owned by the White Star Line, was launched on May 31, 1911 without christening, as was the custom at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

 

After stopping to deliver mail and letting of some passengers, the Titanic sailed from Southhampton for New York at 6:55 am on April 11, 1912. It hit an iceberg at 11:40 pm on April 14, 1912, and sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean at 2:20 am on April 15, 1912.

 

Here is the evidence that we are sinking: Jesus said that if we look with lust, we commit adultery in our heart. No one who has had sex outside of marriage, or any liar, or any thief will enter heaven. The Bible says that if we hate someone, we are guilty of murder. We fail to put God first. We make a god in our image. We break all the Commandments[1].

 

If we stay with the “ship,” we will perish on the Day of Judgment, when all of our sins come out as evidence of our guilt. God, however, is rich in mercy and doesn’t want anyone to go to hell. He made a way for us to be saved. Jesus Christ, the One whom the Bible calls the “Captain of our salvation,” gave His life so that we could have a place in the lifeboat. He took our punishment upon Himself, suffering on the cross for us[1].

 

We broke God’s Law, but He paid our fine. Then He rose from the dead, defeating death. The moment we repent and trust in Him alone for our eternal salvation, God will forgive us and grant us the gift of eternal life[1].

 

Rev. John Harper was a hero on the voyage. He could have switched to another ship with all expenses paid by someone who had an intuitive feeling that the Titanic would sink. Harper did not switch and boarded the Titanic for New York and thence to Moody Church by invitation to conduct a second revival meeting[2].

 

During the trip across the Atlantic he witnessed for Christ to as many as would listen. When the ship hit the iceberg, he gave his life preserver to another and did not get in the lifeboat (he could have since he was the only parent of his daughter Nana on board). In the water, before he himself drowned, he swam to everyone he could and urged them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31) before perishing. He literally gave his life to save others[2].

 

Titanic timeline (possible 2009 , 2011 and 2012 parallel dates): [3]

 

n      July 29,1908 Titanic planned - July 29, 2008 ? Los Angeles 5.4 earthquake ?

n      March 31,1909 keel laid, Hull 401 (March 31, 2009 -- pre-tribulation rapture ?)

n      May 31,1911 launched, no christening (May 31, 2011)

n      April 11,1912 1:30 pm departed for NY (April 11, 2012 - main harvest rapture ? )

n      April 14,1912 11:40 pm hit iceberg (April 14, 2012)

n      April 15,1912 2:20 am sank (April 15, 2012)

 

Casualties:

n      1523 drowned, (1 Thessalonians 15:23 ?)   

n      705 rescued,  (Psalms 7:05 ?)

 

Elapsed time [parallels :to first half of Tribulation: 3/31/2009 (or 7/29/2008) to 4/15/2012] 

n      March 31, 1909 to April 15, 1912 is 3 yrs 15 days

n      July 29, 1908 to April 15, 1912 is 3 yrs 8 mo.(this time is closer to 3.5 yrs)

 

2008 to 2012 Events

n      July 29, 2008 Los Angeles 5.4 earthquake

     March 31, 2009 ?

     May 31, 2011 ?

     April 11, 2012 ?

     April 14, 2012 ?

           April 15, 2012 ?

 

Luke 21:36

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

 

Revelation 3:10

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

 

References

[1]  www.waitingforjesus.com (site noting parallel of Titanic to Bible plan of salvation)

[2]   The Titanic's Last Hero by Moody Adams (story of Rev. John Harper, ISBN 0-937422-39-8)

[3] www.theteachersguide.com/Titanictimeline.html (good reference for facts)

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wik/RMS_Titanic (general background info)