"When He Dies, Judgement"

These twisted trees pictured below are called Bristlecone Pine trees. I spotted the first one at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and the second at Montezuma Well. Bristlecone Pine trees grow very slowly, but they live the longest of any single living organism known on earth. Obviously these two trees didn't survive, but their twisted shapes still remain.

The oldest Bristlecone Pine tree is located in the White Mountains of Eastern California. It is now almost 5000 years old. It has been named Methuselah, after the longest living person in the Bible.

In the Bible Methuselah lived to be almost 1000 years old. He was the son of Enoch and the grandfather of Noah. Methuselah died the same year of the Flood. His name is prophetic because it means "when he dies, judgement."

"Altogether, Methuselah lived

a total of 969 years,

and then he died."

Genesis 5:27 (NIV)

As I look at the death of these Bristlecone Pine trees, I can't help but ponder the impending judgement of God that will once again come upon the earth. It won't be by flood, but through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. And all those who have not been pardoned by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour will be condemned to spend eternity without God.

"For He has set a day

when He will judge the world

with justice

by the man He has appointed.

He has given proof of this to everyone

by raising Him from the dead."

Acts 17:31 (NIV)