“I believe the earth itself is groaning (Rom. 8:19-22) in anticipation of the Lord’s return. Part of this groaning includes floods, volcanoes, tidal waves, hurricanes, and earthquakes.”

-Jim Bakker in “Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse”

New Zealand’s Mount Tongariro erupted late Sunday night sending rocks and ash into the sky. Witnesses reported seeing “flame like explosions” and at least one witness reported seeing a new hole in the side of the mountain.

Mount Tongariro is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano is made up of 12 separate cones. The current eruption happened at the Te Mari craters which had been dormant since 1897.

Residents of the area were ordered to stay inside and keep their doors and windows closed until given an all clear by government officials.

“[The eruption was] very unexpected,” GNS volcanologist Michael Rosenberg said. “You can measure and monitor, but sometimes mother nature will do her own thing.”

Tongariro is not the only volcano showing increased activity. A surveillance camera at White Island captured a small eruption at its crater lake and the volcano is classified as an “active” volcano.