here is the promise of His coming?

There is a subtle picture as one looks at the destruction of neighborhoods that I overlooked at first. As one drives down the streets and looks at the destruction I noticed that large Pine trees have died. Some of these trees are huge, probably at least 50 t0 60 years old and some older. When I noticed these dead trees I asked someone about them and was told that they don't like salt water. As the salt water soaked into the ground the trees died.

What went through my mind immediately was that these trees haven't experienced this phenomenon before in their lifetime.
I have been told over and over again that we haven't seen anything this before in our lifetime.

My mind immediately went to the scripture in II Peter 3: 3,4,9,10,11,12 which says, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is the coming he has promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, the heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed it's coming."

One day these folks were living as though life will go on as it always has, and the next day disaster struck as it never had before.