Natural Disasters Increasing in Severity: Sorrows Increasing

Earth cracked by quake in Japan (Danny Choo)

Are severe natural disasters worsening? According to a new report from 2009 to 2010 they have:

About 42 million people were forced to flee their homes because of natural disasters around the world in 2010, more than double the number during the previous year…The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre said the increase from 17 million displaced people in 2009 was mainly due to the impact of “mega-disasters”…

It said more than 90 percent of the disaster displacements were caused by weather-related hazards such as floods and storms that were probably impacted by global warming, but it couldn’t say to what extent.

“The intensity and frequency of extreme weather events is increasing, and this trend is only set to continue. With all probability, the number of those affected and displaced will rise as human-induced climate change comes into full force,” said Elisabeth Rasmusson, the secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council. (Amland BH. Millions displaced by natural disasters last year. Associated Press, June 5, 2011. http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/millions-displaced-by-natural-968478.html)

And the above does not include the Japanese earthquake, the recent increase in deaths via tornadoes in the USA, or a variety of other disasters in 2011. And while there may be less people displaced in 2011 than 2010, natural disasters, including drought and floods are affecting multiple millions this year.

In an earlier update this year, LCG reported::

Natural Disasters—A Sign from God? In the wake of Japan’s recent earthquake and tsunami, Tokyo’s governor referred to the events as tembatsu—or “divine judgment.” Mr. Ishihara subsequently apologized for his religious-sounding comments. However, many around the globe agree with Mr. Ishihara’s initial assessment. A recent poll of Americans revealed that about 40% view natural disasters as “a sign from God.” That number approaches 60% among Evangelicals, and drops significantly among Catholics and non-Evangelical “Christians” (Foxnews.com, March 24, 2011). As we approach the “end of the age”—as the Bible refers to it—students of the Bible understand that natural disasters, on land and at sea, will increase in intensity and frequency (Matthew 24:6-8; Revelation 6:5-8). The Caribbean hurricane season is predicted to be intense again this year and to start earlier in the southern Caribbean and western Gulf of Mexico. AccuWeather predicts “15 named storms from June 1 to November 30, eight of which will become hurricanes, with three major ones (category three or higher)” (www.nationnews.com, March 31, 2011). Although natural disasters will come, God also prophesies that a future time of peace will come when tears and sorrow will no longer exist (Revelation 21:4). God controls the weather and He will use it to punish nations that turn away from His laws. In the long-term, God will use the weather to bring blessings to nations that follow His laws. For more information on this important topic please review our intriguing booklet, Who Controls the Weather?

But these disasters are not part of the Great Tribulation.

Some may wonder, “Why all the problems now, if this is not the Great Tribulation? Surely they mean something.”

And surely they do. The Apostle Paul warned that in the last days, perilous times would come:

3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

We seem to be in those perilous times.

With all of the natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, related food shortages, and emerging pestilences in the past few years, perhaps this would be a good time to show people that these are to occur PRIOR to the “great tribulation”.

The disciples asked Jesus the sequence:

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

Notice what Jesus taught in response:

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:4-21).

Thus, recent items such as earthquakes, economic turmoils, and food shortages should, at most, be considered as related to “the beginning of sorrows” (which may or may not yet have started in their final intensity) and not the “great tribulation” itself. The “great tribulation” does NOT begin until verse 21. And while “tribulation” is involved in verse 9, this seems to be referring the persecuting tribulation that true Philadelphia Christians will face just prior to the great tribulation. But when the sacrifices stop and the abomination is set up (Daniel 9:27; 11:31), it will be time for the faithful to flee (see also There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

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

We may be at this prophetic point as all the earthquakes and other problems that have happened in the past year or so could be considered as “troubles”.

Natural disasters should serve as a wake-up call to all that the world can change very quickly and that the time to repent is now:

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)

There are troubling times and repentance is needed now. The increase in natural disasters seems to support the view (which I and many in LCG have, see also LCG: Beginning of Sorrows May Have Begun) that the prophesied “beginning of sorrows” has begun. The rest of the prophetic sequence in Matthew 24 (and elsewhere in the Bible) will come to pass as well.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy This article has cool update of the latest earthquakes from USGS sources. It also explains what Jesus taught about earthquakes. It also show how the Bible describe “the big one”?
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? What is “the beginning of sorrows”? Have we begun or are we about ready for “the beginning of sorrows” to begin.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?
2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect This is a link related to a book by Bob Thiel (COGwriter). This link also has YouTube videos. This book documents and explains hundreds of prophecies. And since it was published, world events have aligned with at least 14 predictions in the book and many more will to come to pass.
2012 y el surgimiento de la secta secreta 2012 libro del Dr. Thiel en Español.
2012 und das Auftreten der geheimen Sekte (German Edition) 2012 Buch von Dr. Thiel in deutscher Sprache.
2012 e o Surgimento da Seita Secreta (Portuguese Edition) 2012 livro do Dr. Thiel em Português. Este livro documenta e explica centenas de profecias. E desde que foi publicado pela primeira vez, pelo menos 14 já começaram a acontecer.