The 7.5 magnitude earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that engulfed the coastal city of Palu, Indonesia has rescuers rushing to save people who are trapped and cut off from the rest of the world. The death-toll from this massive disaster has jumped to 1,203 and is expected to rise as survivors have no access to food, water or electricity. [1]
This is certainly a tragedy of massive proportions. Any loss of life is terrible and sobering to each of us. These people only had seconds to escape the tsunami that came in and engulfed them into eternity. Even with all the modern technology and science, man is incapable of protecting himself.
Leading men are telling us that the increase in natural disasters seen today is caused by climate change. [2] Some would like to convince us that this is all about man and not about God – but the Bible has another answer as to why we are seeing these catastrophes. Jesus was asked about the signs that would be seen in this world just prior His Second Coming. Three of these end-time signs are earthquakes and waves coupled with the massive loss of lives.
- “And there shall be signs…the sea and the waves roaring.” Luke 21:25.
- “And earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7.
- “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” Matthew 24:22.
The Scriptures teach us that earthquakes, waves and the loss of lives are all part of the signs that would precede the end of this present world. However, men today say that nothing consequential is happening. Jesus is not coming. These natural disasters are something that we can fix. Many believe that by implementing certain environmental policies that somehow the world can be saved. In contrast, the Holy Scriptures say that these events are part of the major signs of Christ’s return.
The Beginning of Sorrows
After Jesus describes the major signs, He then tells us: “All these are the beginning of sorrows” Matthew 24:8.
To those suffering in Indonesia it seems to them like the end of the world. Sadly, this is just the beginning of the end. We are only seeing the beginning of sorrows. Before Christ returns to usher in a new world – a world without earthquakes, suffering, tsunamis or the loss of lives – our world is actually going to get a lot worse before everything gets better.
The cause for our deteriorating world has nothing to do with global warming or climate change. The coming crisis has to do with the fact that our world has rejected Christ. Because men and women have forsaken God and His commandments, the troubles will intensify – to such a point that no one would survive if Jesus doesn’t return to intervene.
Local Mosque Decimated.
An Age of Lawlessness
“And because iniquity [lawlessness] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” Matthew 24:12.
Jesus accurately forecasts the root of the problem facing our world today. Christ predicted that lawlessness would abound. No truer words could pinpoint our social problems. Lawlessness is in the very air we breathe. It is in the schools, the churches, the homes, on television, on the radio, on social media, in politics and in society in general.
God wants us to keep His commandments (1 John 5:3), and sometimes God allows evil to come upon the disobedient. Sometimes God Himself brings trouble to turn us away from our lawlessness:
“As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. ” Daniel 9:13, 14.
The present conditions existing in our world all indicate that we are at the end of time. The Second Coming of Jesus is right at the doors. Jesus prophesied that His people will know when His coming would be near.
“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matthew 24:33, 34.
The faith of God’s people will only grow stronger as the final events are seen approaching. Sadly, more catastrophic natural disaster will come by means of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, fires, droughts, mudslides and volcanic eruptions. Our only safety is for our lives to be hid in Christ.
“The conditions prevailing in society, and especially in the great cities of the nations, proclaim in thunder tones that the hour of God’s judgment is come and that the end of all things earthly is at hand. We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.” Maranatha, p. 67.
Sources
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45716915
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