Signs Of The End?

It seems that we have had a barrage of natural disasters to start off 2010. On January 12, a catastrophic earthquake devastated the island of Haiti, killing thousands. On February 27, Chile was struck with a massive 8.8 earthquake. And, for the last week a huge volcano on Iceland has been erupting, spewing smoke and ash over a whole swath of Europe. What's next? Some may wonder if these natural calamities are sign pointing to the end of time and the return of Jesus Christ. What does the Bible say?

Natural calamities are nothing new. Even during Bible times, mankind had to deal with unexpected and violent forces of nature. Job was personally touched by “fire from heaven,” and “a great wind” that took the lives of his children, Job 1. Several earthquakes, one of which was mentioned in Amos 1:1, rocked Jerusalem. Isaiah spoke of the power of God who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar, Isaiah 51:15. In the days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, Jesus said there would be famines and earthquakes in various places, Matthew 24:7.

There will be no signs pointing to the end of time. Many have mistakenly used passages such as Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11 as signs pointing the end of time. These verses, when taken in context, can be clearly applied to events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. Those who try to have tried to predict when the end will come have been embarrassed every time. Concerning the end, Jesus stated, concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only, Matthew 24:36. Jesus then goes on to warn His disciples to stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming, and be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect, Matthew 24:42, 44. In Luke's gospel, Jesus told the disciples to stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning...blessed are those servants whom the Master finds awake when He comes...if He comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants, Luke12:35, 37, 38. Are you prepared? Why must we remain “dressed for action?” Because no one knows the moment when the Lord will return. If the Lord came back today would you be in the number with the saved? If not, we urge you to began a relationship with Christ. The Christians at Kettering Church of Christ would love to meet you and show you God's wonderful plan of redemption.