Earthquakes, droughts and floods, Middle East violence, impending food shortages: Troubles just beginning

“Orthodox” 16th Century Representation of the “Apocalypse”

In today’s commentary, LCG’s Wyatt Ciesielka had the following:

Earthquakes, droughts and floods, Middle East violence, impending food shortages, and a lingering Japanese nuclear disaster – the news is bleak!…

In addition to wars and natural disasters, the global economy is trapped in a grinding crisis. European central banks warn of inflationary dangers (Financial Times, March 31, 2011). The United Kingdom predicts “wages rises falling far short of tax and price rises for at least another two years” with real household disposable income falling by “the largest annual decline since 1977” (BBCNews.com, March 30, 2011). Sadly, this mix of inflation and government welfare cutbacks will “hit children and elderly hardest” (Financial Times, April 3, 2011). In New Zealand, business leaders expect their economy to “deteriorate” over the next six months (BBCNews, April 4, 2011). And, in Portugal, economists fear a “lost decade” (Financial Times, April 4, 2011).

America has also suffered. But, United States inflation has actually been very subdued the last few years. For those who have found their household budgets stretched thin already, the unsettling fact is that as of February of this year, core inflation was only up a “modest 0.2%,” and the consumer price index was only up 0.5% (USA Today, April 1, 2011). This is an extremely mild (and unsustainable) rate of inflation. Unfortunately, price increases appear to be on the near-term horizon. For example, Bill Simon; CEO of Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, warns Americans to expect “serious inflation in the months ahead for clothing, food and other products” (ibid).

Additionally, the world’s food situation is reaching an unprecedented crisis situation. As crop output and inventories fall to “critically low levels,” grain prices continue to “surge.” Forecasts are that food prices will continue to increase as pressures on demand only intensify (Financial Times, March 31, 2011). And, drought, floods, and increased demand are only some of the many factors driving up world food costs…

Sadly, these troubles are only beginning. Because of unrepentant sinfulness, the people have separated themselves from God (Isaiah 59:2, 18). So, there will be a time of national punishment, famine and war that will almost completely destroy Israel’s modern descendants (Jeremiah 30:7, Matthew 24:21-27). But, thankfully God will have pity on His people. Isaiah reveals that in “wrath I struck you, but in My favor I have had mercy on you” (Isaiah 60:10). Then, Zion will be established on the earth (v. 14). Then, all nations and all kingdoms will help restore and rebuild Israel (vv. 10-14).

Scripture reveals the hope of future generations, when prosperity, abundance, and world peace will flourish and Israel will be a blessing to the nations. “Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer and say to His people, ‘Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil and you will be satisfied by them … Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things … The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil” (Joel 2:18-24). Then, all nations will learn peace and will learn to serve the Lord God (Isaiah 19:24-25, Zechariah 14:16-21)!

Beyond today’s bad news is the good news of the coming Kingdom of God! Please read Armageddon and Beyond for more about this wonderful future. God speed that day!

An earlier commentary by LCG’s J. Davy Crockett III, on March 8, 2011, declared:

Peace and plenty for all mankind will be achieved only when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth. Until then, you can expect greater disasters and you will see that what we are experiencing now is but, “…the beginning of sorrows.”

FWIW, I have suspected for about a year and a half that the beginning of sorrows may have begun on September 19, 2009. And as Wyatt Ciesielka wrote, these troubles are only the beginning, before ultimately they will truly get better. Of course, while there will be some ups and downs, for the USA and its Anglo-allies it will only get worse as we approach the Great Tribulation and the final time of the Gentiles.

Jesus taught:

8…And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

Look for more conflict, disasters, and probably this October (near the time of the Feast of Tabernacles), some report of famine, food shortages, and/or food inflation (cf. Revelation 6:5-6).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy Contains a cool up-to-the-hour update of earthquakes around the world from USGS. It also explains what did Jesus teach about earthquakes and how the Bible describes “the big one” (as well as when it is expected).
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?