Extreme weather across the Midwest this week has whipped up destructive tornadoes in at least eight different states. Ohio and Indiana were hit the worst, with a suspected nine and 14 tornadoes respectively. The tornadoes have claimed the life of at least one man – an 81-year-old resident of Celina, Ohio – who died when a car was thrown into his home. An Indiana-based preacher, Paul Begley from West Lafayette, has now warned the “earth is shaking and the heavens are quaking” with the wrath of God.
On Wednesday, the record-breaking spate of storms has entered its 12 days – a stretch of severe weather not seen in 40 years.
Pastor Begley, who filmed one of the thunderstorms from his backyard, urged his devout followers to brace for more destruction.
He said: “God’s words said He was going to shake the heavens, that He was going to cause the Earth to tremble, that He was going to cause the Earth to reel and rock like a drunken man, and God said these would be some of the signs of the last days.”
Pastor Begley is a firm believer in the notion the end of the world is fast approaching.
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In his opinion, evince of the biblical apocalypse is unfolding before his very eyes and things are about to get worse.
Pastor Begley said: “The Earth is shaking and quaking, the winds are whipping, the storms are raging, the lighting bolts are flashing and are striking, the sinkholes are opening, the tornadoes are tearing things up.”
The US National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of “another volatile severe weather day” today (May 29) from the Southern Plains and mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys into the Atlantic.
The weather forecaster said storms still threaten to trigger tornadoes, damaging winds, heavy rain, large hail and even flash flooding.
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Two “areas of concern” now extend from St Louis to Dallas and from Pittsburgh to New York City, and from Philadelphia to Washington DC.
Pastor Begley, who asked God to shelter him from the storm, read from Psalms 91 during an online sermon.
The biblical passage in question reads: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’
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“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.”
Pastor Begley then said God himself came to him and commanded him to warn people of “apocalyptic weather” and an “unleashing of tornadoes” to come.
He said: “It’s coming back today. Storms are already begging to develop in Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa’s got to look – everybody open your eyes – Kansas.
“It’s crazy what’s about to unleash upon the nation.”