One of the signs culminating in Jesus' presence is "earthquakes in one place after another". (Matthew 24:7) As we have previously discussed the Greek word "seismos" which is generally rendered "earthquakes" at Matthew 24:7 basically means a commotion. At Matthew 8:24 it is used to for a great sea storm. It is used in 2 Kings 2:1 (4 Kings 2:1, LXX) for the great windstorm that carried Elijah to the heavens. Therefore we can understand that Jesus may have been giving as a sign not just earthquakes, but the whole gamut of turbulant disasters including such things as tornadoes, typhoons, and hurricanes.
Jesus called these things "birth pains". (Matthew 24:8, NIV) Labor pains build toward child birth, getting stronger in intesity and closer together. Therefore we can expect that the signs Jesus spoke of to build in severity and increase until the birth the kingdom. At this time the complete number of 144,000 holy ones join together with Jesus in his heavenly kingdom to begin ruling. (Revelation 19:7,8,11-16) This Kingdom will bring about judgment for wicked mankind and long awaited rewards for the righteous.
With this in mind we pay attention close attention to world events, particularly the indicators Jesus spoke of - war, famine, pestilance, and tumultuous disasters. It is interesting that in response to unique happenings in the world today that even people who do not read their Bibles are starting to take notice of what is going on believing that what we are experiencing seems out of the ordinary.
Considering just the natural disasters that are plaguing humanity a recent Newsweek article, The Last Word: Preparing for The Worst, indicates that there is an increase is disasters. Janos Bogardi, director of the U.N. University's Insitute for the Environment and Human Security said in an interview, "There are absolutely clear signs and compelling statistics showing the situation is getting worse. We now are experiencing 2.5 to 3 times as many extreme events of climatic or water-related emergencies per year as we did in the 1970s. At the same time annual economic losses [from disasters] have increased sixfold." When asked why we are seeing this Mr. Bogardi commented, "Climate change certainly plays an important role. That leads to extremes at both ends of the spectrum. We have more floods, more droughts, longer heat spells without rain and more storms."
This compliments the scenario painted in the October 2003 Pentagon study entitled An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United States National Security. Therein the report suggests a huge environmental fallout caused by global warming within the next 10 to 20 years. It graphically speaks of various doomsday scenarios including whole countries rendered inhabitable, nuclear wars fought over food and water supplies, and a sharp increase in disasters, famine and disease. So while this report is speculative it is worth noting the national governments are becoming increasingly open to idea that severe climate change may become a reality very shortly.
As Christians we remain aware of the realities of the Lord's prophetic words. We pay attention to the apostle Paul's advice found at 1 Corinthians 7:29-31: "Moreover, this I say, brothers, the time left is reduced. Henceforth let those who have wives be as though they had none, and also those who weep be as those who do not weep, and those who rejoice as those who do not rejoice, and those who buy as those not possessing, and those making use of the world as those not using it to the full; for the scene of this world is changing." And certainly while it would be unwise to be dogmatic about the exact meaning of our times we would be foolish to ignore our surroundings, being like those in Noah's day who were "eating and drinking" - those who "took no note until the flood came and swept them all away" (Matthew 24:39)
