Chelyabinsk, Russia [CNN; Oleg Goncharov; CD EUDNews]. Friday, February 15, was an extremely unusual day, astronomically speaking. Just as scientists were gearing up to witness an asteroid's closest ever approach to Earth in recorded history, a sizeable meteor exploded over Russia, causing thousands of injuries and major damage to buildings.
The asteroid, named DA14, came within 17,000 miles or so, as close as a telecommunication satellite in geosynchronous orbit. DA14 is quite a bit smaller than YU55, the asteroid that passed Earth in November 2011, but DA14 came more than 10 times closer.
The meteor that fell Friday near Chelyabinsk, Russia, was pretty big, maybe 50 feet across. In 1908, a slightly larger meteor -- perhaps three times larger in diameter, or 27 times larger in mass -- flattened a thousand square miles of forest near Tunguska, Russia, downing some 80 million trees.
NASA scientists estimate that meteors as large as Friday's might hit the Earth every decade or two, while Tunguska-like events are estimated to occur once every 1,000 years. Two rare events happening at approximately the same time is much more unlikely.
What do these events mean? Nothing or everything, God only knows. In any case, let us keep in mind Jesus' words: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14: 27)
The Adventist Church
Oleg Goncharov, PARL Director of the Euro-Asia Division reported: "None of the members of our church suffered during the meteor strike in Russia. The houses of some members of our church were damaged. However, the buildings of the adventist church had no damage. […] The meteor strike in Russia caused a wave of horror in many russian inhabitants. But Adventists know the Bible and do not fear these events."
The Euro-Asia Division counts 1967 adventist churches, with 139,111 members. To learn more, please visit the following web site: www.adventist.ru
pictures: Meteor (Wikipedia); Oleg Goncharov (Adventist Church);
