July 2008 article by Jonathan Thompson
As a regular participant to this
“Signs of the Times” series, I often review various news websites, media,
periodicals and other sources of information that relate to the state of the
world and the serious issues that the world’s leaders and politicians have to
face.
This time, I didn’t need to do too
much research, because as I come to write this month’s piece and reflect on
what has occurred in the news my mind (together with many readers of this
article, I suspect) has been immediately drawn to three issues:-
Let’s think about these issues for
a moment.
Tale of Two Disasters
This is a headline
taken from the BBC news website comparing and contrasting the recent cyclone
and earthquake disasters in
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7407927.stm
The article makes grim reading in
terms of the sheer scale of life lost and the colossal damage to property and
infrastructure. Here are other links showing the latest information on the
destruction and death-toll.
Interestingly, these disasters,
particularly the cyclone in
According to the relief charity
World Vision “The disaster could impact on world food prices, with huge rice
crop losses across the region”
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1315004,00.html
The ramifications of this problem
can and will potentially affect the lives of millions across the globe,
particularly those who cannot afford the inflated prices that are now being
felt by all. The result will be further suffering, hunger, starvation and
disease being experienced by those who are least equipped to withstand these
price hikes and shortages in the basic foodstuffs of life.
The Bible says that the world will
be in such a state of turmoil and chaos just at the time before God’s hand will
intervene in world affairs to put right these problems of earthquake, famine
and disease.
Those who read these articles
regularly will know that we often quote the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in
relation to these issues that we constantly read in our news. For example,
Jesus said:-
Luke 21:10-11 “Nation
shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; and great earthquakes
shall be in divers places and famines and pestilences”
Later on in this same passage from
Luke’s gospel record, Jesus elaborates further on what we should look for to
provide us with confidence that his return is near. He said in Luke 21:25 “And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon
and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the
sea and the waves roaring.”
One of the reasons we often quote
these words is because the news and the issues in the world continually reflect
and repeat over and over again what the Bible clearly states. For example, the
situation with earthquakes is a typical case. Look at our previous articles on
this subject showing that earthquake incidents and their devastating effects
appear to be on the increase as time progresses:-
Further confirmation of continual
earthquake activity has been seen in the aftermath of the Chinese earthquake;
there have been further huge aftershocks in both frequency and intensity
causing additional death and misery to those involved – click on the link
below:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7422106.stm
At the end of last month (29th
May 2008), another significant ’quake hit our headlines as
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7426369.stm
We believe these latest news
reports on these issues show us again that the momentum is building to that
time when the Lord Jesus will return to the earth to establish what the Bible
terms “The Kingdom of God”. This kingdom will replace the current period of
uncertainty, stress, war, earthquakes, storms and suffering with an era of
stability, righteousness, peace and assurance. The prophet Isaiah speaks of
that time to come and provides for us a glimpse into the