Read: Matthew 24:3-14 NLT – Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of – Bible Gateway
“Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.” Matthew 24:7 NLT
When I was young, I can recall several preachers saying if you want to know the future just read the front page of the newspaper. Now that was some time ago as newspapers have gone the way of the dinosaur, so now it is what’s trending on your X account and you will get the same news of the day and in living color. Before I proceed further, the following is not a prediction as to when Jesus Christ will return, but it is a prediction that He will return, and He has given us signs to look for as the day approaches.
This past Monday, August 10th, the country of Colombia was struck with a 7.4 magnitude earthquake. According to the ‘Associated Press’ as of Thursday August 13th, there are 265 confirmed dead and over 4,000 missing as reported by an independent database. It was the most powerful earthquake to hit Colombia in over a century. CBS news reported 3,500 people were injured and 26,000 families have been affected.
Venezuela, a country that shares the same northern region of South America as Colombia, experienced two major earthquakes 39 seconds apart just a little over six weeks earlier on June 24th. Registering 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale. ‘World Vision’ has reported the quakes killed over 5,000 people and injured 16,700. This also was the strongest quake in over one hundred years in Venezuela. Critical damage has been done to the infrastructure of the country and recovery will take months.
The similarities and differences between these earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela are striking. Scientifically the Colombia Geological Service explains the differences, “There is no relationship between the two events because they obey different dynamics. While the earthquake that occurred in Venezuela was shallower and is associated with the shear interaction of the Caribbean plate with the South American plate, which involves a lateral (transform) movement of one relative to the other; today’s earthquake in Colombia is the result of the subduction (or sinking) of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate, with a depth of 103 km. This demonstrates that earthquakes are independent,” explained the SGC on X. (1)
Scientifically it makes sense that earthquakes are independent of each other, but what is forgotten is who created the earth and has all things in His control, and that is God. One of the signs Jesus gave His disciples as they asked Him when will the end times come were numerous earthquakes. Jesus said, “There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.” (Mt.24:7 nlt) Numerous earthquakes we have and “Today, the world stands on the brink of unprecedented famines. About thirty million people are experiencing alarming hunger, severe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in north-eastern Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen.10 million of themare facing emergencyand famine conditions. Famine is already likely happening in parts of northern Nigeria, while Yemen and Somalia are on the brink.” (2)
Our Lord has given us signs to watch for in the days ahead as we anticipate His return. You may thinking haven’t these signs been on-going throughout history? Yes, they have. But the frequency and intensity of the signs will increase as we get closer to the return of Christ. Two things are certain; Jesus will return as Scripture says and we are 2,000 years closer than when Jesus spoke those words.
(2) https://www.oxfam.org/en/hungry-world-plenty-millions-brink-famine
My coworkers and I were discussing this topic this past week. The frequency and intensity do seem to be increasing. And even the “rarities” like a hurricane making landfall in Hawaii are increasingly becoming less rare.
I love that you threw some science on it, Loring. It’s helpful to understand how the Earth moves and causes these big earthquakes.
Biblically speaking, we know Christ will return and we are closer to that day than we were yesterday.
Timely post my friend.
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Thank you Rainer, yes the time is approaching although we don’t know when, but it will come.
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