“…and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.” Luke 21:25.
Is this latest tsunami a sign of the end? It could be. Or, it might not be. It depends on what follows. This is not the first or the biggest disaster of its kind. Below is a short list of other catastrophes that have wreaked havoc on our planet:
1991 – 138,000 die in a cyclone and tsunami in Southern Bangladesh.
2. 1976 – 240,000 die from an earthquake in Northern China.
3. 1970 – 266,000 die in a cyclone and tsunami in East Pakistan.
1927 – 200,000 die in an earthquake in Central China.
1923 – 142,800 die in an earthquake, fire and tsunamis in the Tokyo-Yokohama area.
1920 – 200,000 die in an earthquake in Central China.
1887 – 900,000 die in an earthquake in Central China.
1737 – 300,000 die in an earthquake and tornado in Calcutta, India.
1730 – 137,000 die in an earthquake in Hokkaido, Japan.
1703 – 200,000 die in an earthquake in Honshu, Japan.
1556 – 830,000 die in an earthquake in Central China.
1201 – 1,100,000 die in an earthquake in Northern Egypt.
1138 – 330,000 die in an earthquake in Egypt and Syria.
893 – 330,000 die in an earthquake in India and Iran.
856 – 200,000 die in an earthquake in Iran.
In light of the above, it would be difficult to point to the recent disaster and say that it signifies the imminent return of Christ. He knew that we would tend to do that very thing, so He said, “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs,” Mark 13:7-8.
“And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately,” Luke 21:9.
“Birth pangs.” That is an interesting way to describe the end times. Before birth, labor pains come more frequently and more intensely as they bring on delivery. So it will be with the coming of Christ. As we draw close to that event, catastrophes will be more numerous, closer together and more intense. Then “men’s hearts will faint for fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world,” Luke 21:26.
From the book The Great Controversy, we have this description of what causes these catastrophes: “Satan works through the elements to reap his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was allowed to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds, servants, houses and children were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. It is God who shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. But, the world has shown contempt for the law of God; and He will do just what He said He would do—He will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them… In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great fires, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in winds, floods, cyclones, tidal waves and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power… These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous,” pp. 589-590.
We cannot begin to imagine the pain that so many are going through with the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their property. We do know that life is not certain on this earth. We need to enjoy what we are given and not expect things to go as planned. The only thing we can count on for sure is the promise of eternal life. Let us live each day as though it is our last, and savor the good times we enjoy with the ones we love while helping others see life in the proper perspective.
Dennis
dennispumford.com
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