We have recently experienced a period that has had one of the highest rates of great earthquakes ever recorded.
Does this mean that the end times are near, or even starting now?
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven. (Matthew 21, Mark 13, Luke 21)
There will probably be many hyperbolic articles bordering on hysteria about the recent spate of earthquakes. However, simple research shows there has not been any increase in the average number of earthquakes per year that occur all over the Earth. Even though the Earth has been around for a lot longer than mankind has been keeping records, the last 100+ years have been very constant. Here is a plot of all the earthquakes (magnitude 7.0 and greater) throughout the Earth for the last 100+ years…
There is no perceptible change in the magnitude or frequency of earthquakes. If you’re getting caught up in speculation, worry, and fear about the end times, you’re missing the real message that Jesus wanted his disciples to understand.
The Lord had to prepare his followers for the overthrow of their city, and the dangers to life and faith which would accompany that judgment. He desired also to raise in them a constant expectation of his advent, so that Christians then and thenceforward might ever live in hope and watch for a great future. Herein will be found the key to the perplexities of the address; not that even this unlocks all the mysteries, but, it opens the drift of these wonderful utterances, and enables us to see light amid the gloom. This will appear more fully as we examine the details. Take heed that no man deceive you; πλανήσῃ: lead you astray. Jesus does not answer the disciples’ question as to the time when “these things” shall occur; that is purposely left uncertain. He proceeds to warn them against the dangers which would beset them in the coming crisis. He withdraws them from the speculative to the practical. – Pulpit Commentary
No mater how long you live, your life is short. You are not promised one more day, one more hour, or even, one more minute. Please don’t let any man deceive you from the simplicity that is in Christ.
This is what the LORD says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the LORD.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
(Jeremiah 17:5-10)
It doesn’t say the days won’t get hot. It doesn’t say there won’t be things to fear. It doesn’t say there won’t be things to worry about. It does say we will have the living water to keep us from being afraid and worrying. There is a big difference. Pray that we learn to rest in God.