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On a Friday morning of our 'Week of Prayer,' Pastor Eliezer "Joer" Barlizo, the Central Philippine Union Conference president, called us for a special prayer for those affected by the vast fires ravaging Palisades and Eaton in Los Angeles, California.

I was completely unaware of the devastating fires in Los Angeles. I don't typically watch TV, and the news site I follow didn't send notifications about fire disasters. It wasn't until a friend from the US reached out to express her concerns that I finally grasped the severity of the situation. I immediately went online to learn more.

As we may all know, the recent wildfires in Los Angeles have been among the most destructive in the city's history. In just a few days, thousands of acres of land were consumed by flames, leaving trails of devastation that include residential neighborhoods, churches, schools, hospitals, and countless businesses.

The fire's ruthless rampage devoured not only infrastructure but also years of toil, effort, and sacrifice. It reduced to ashes not just countless homes but cherished memories and hard-earned tokens of success. Worse still, it extinguished not only lives but the hopes, dreams, and ambitions that those lives held.

While churches across various faiths unite in prayer, LA County remains engulfed in flames, enduring a relentless assault from the fire's insatiable hunger. Yet, the wounds inflicted extend beyond the physical destruction; cyberspace echoes with a chorus of insensitive and hurtful comments, adding insult to injury for those grappling with immense loss.

The internet is ablaze with a whirlwind of reactions to the LA fires. Some voices, fueled by fear and fervent beliefs, declare the disaster a divine judgment upon a city overrun with sin. To bolster their claims, they circulate excerpts from Ellen White's "Last Day Events," sharing her prophetic visions of fire and destruction as undeniable proof of God's wrath.

The passage that netizens circulate says, "Scenes that would take place in Chicago and other large cities pass before me. As wickedness increased and the protecting power of God was withdrawn, there were destructive winds and tempests. Buildings were destroyed by fire and shaken down by earthquakes."

Pastor Heshbon Buscato, the communication director of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division in Silang, Cavite, also appealed on social media upon seeing, perhaps, those harsh comments on the internet. In a Facebook post on Jan. 14, 2025, he said, "Instead of sharing quotes from prophecy to highlight judgment during the Los Angeles wildfires, remember that countless faithful souls are among the victims. Lift your voice in prayer for comfort, healing, and hope amidst the flames."

This post ignited over a hundred comments on varying points of view. One was from Jasper Ivan Iturriaga, saying, "Thank you, Pastor. I appreciate this! If tayo masunugan, "God has a plan. If ibang tao, God's judgment." (If we, Adventists, experience the fire outbreak, we say, "God has a plan. If others, we say, "God's judgment.")

On the other hand, the friend I mentioned above shared her opinions about videos that have gone viral—the joke of Nikki Glaser, a comedian who hosted the recent Golden Globes Awards Night held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 5, 2025.

The joke, delivered at the height of her excitement as the first-time host of the Golden Globes, led to a controversial moment where some perceived her words as mocking God.

Sam Haysom, the deputy UK editor for Mashable, uploaded a video clip on its website, "The Mashable," capturing Glaser's statements. In the clip, she said (as Haysom had also transcribed in his article), "So much has already happened in the first half, and the acceptance speeches have been on fire. Who got shouted out the most? Let's look at the numbers."

The screen at the back of the arena changes into a scoreboard, and she continues, "Alright, cast and crew are leading the way with 11 mentions. Moms are holding strong with three shoutouts."

She further said, "God, creator of the universe, zero mentions. And Mario Lopez, host of Access Holywood, one. Alright. No surprise in this godless town."

When the fires erupted two days later, Glaser's joke resurfaced in online discussions. Some netizens, drawing a hasty connection, attributed the disaster to divine retribution for her perceived mockery of God.

Moreover, some people related this incident to the famous legend surrounding the Titanic's sinking, where someone declared the ship unsinkable, even by God.

In his podcast, History Unplugged, J. Edgar Hoover discussed that this myth may have started when "White Star Line "Vice-President P.A.S. Franklin announced, ” We place absolute confidence in the Titanic. We believe the boat is unsinkable.” However, when Franklin spoke those words, the Titanic was at the bottom of the ocean.

The phrase "God himself could not sink this ship" was associated with the Titanic and further popularized by James Cameron's film. This statement, perceived by some as arrogant defiance, has been linked to the ship's tragic fate. However, there's little evidence to suggest anyone actually uttered those exact words before the disaster. This account is anecdotal and lacks solid evidence.

Some draw parallels to Noah's time, suggesting that the people's disregard for his warnings led to their destruction. Others link the event to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, highlighting the consequences of wickedness.

In addition, numerous viral social media posts claim that an Adventist Church near the fire remains unscathed. These false claims, widely shared by Adventists, drew criticism from some. This sparked online debates, with individuals claiming that their own religious institutions—whether churches, temples, or mosques—were similarly spared, suggesting divine favor.

As Adventists, how do we interpret the recent fire tragedy in Los Angeles? Do we believe it directly manifests God's wrath upon the assumed city's wickedness?

Do we support the accusations against Glaser for her insensitive remarks?

Is it timely and appropriate to emphasize God's judgment, particularly referencing White's vision on the LA fire tragedy while the event unfolds and the impact is being assessed?

Or do we believe we are solely entitled to God’s protection as keepers of His laws?