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Luke 21:11 Natural Disasters Coming?
- Thread starter elijahgeneration
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Hehe that combined some of my favorite movies. 
I have no idea. I believe in a Rapture, but if apocolypse does look like this and I am alive, I hope I have a quick painless death to see my Savior.
I have no idea. I believe in a Rapture, but if apocolypse does look like this and I am alive, I hope I have a quick painless death to see my Savior.
Naomi25
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Hi elijah! Welcome to the forum! I too am interested in eschatology, how can we not be?!
As far as your passage is concerned:
And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. - Luke 21:8–11
I think it helps to look at Matthews 'version' of this part of Christ's discourse:
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. - Matthew 24:4–8
Essentially, what Jesus is saying here, is that there are several things that will be common across the time period of the "church age". Those will be wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. These are all "the beginning of birth pains", and we should not be alarmed by then...they are common events that must take place! However, we can assume, I believe, by our Lords usage of the term "birth pains" that we might expect these things to grow in intensity and in frequency towards the end.
We're also told in Romans 8:22: "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now."
I think we could also assume from this, as well as the analogy from Christ's "Olivet Discourse" that creation groaning in birth pains may apply to all other natural disasters as well. The whole planet and the natural order of things has been disturbed by sin. If we believe that everything will 'increase' before Christ's return; the persecution of Christians, the wickedness of the sinful...then I believe it's not unreasonable to think that the planet also will increase in her 'travail'.
Luke 21 is about the judgement upon Jerusalem in 70 AD.
History records a number of earthquakes in increasing frequency toward 70 AD, starting with the earthquake that freed Paul from prison to the earthquake that destroyed Laodicea 60 AD (a city mentioned in Rev, which had just been rebuilt before 70 AD), to Campania 62 AD.
When I was a kid, I started reading scripture in the King James version of the bible and though the older English was sometimes difficult to follow, they used a word to describe the end times tribulations which has gone out of use in newer translations. That word is "travail" and refers to the pangs of giving birth. The natural disasters and wars, even man made calamities are to occur over a long period of time (scripture suggests as long as a generation), but with increasing frequency and increasing intensity, just as birth pangs typically come to a pregnant woman. I'm 62 years old now and can remember major events going back to about the age of 3. From my perspective, the Earth is in travail and has been so for some time.
I actually believe that I will live to see Christ's return or at least be alive to witness God's judgments described in the book against those who receive the mark of the beast. Of course, my belief doesn't make things so, but then I suppose that's part of what it means to be a witness of God's righteous judgment; you can't be a witness to something that you don't believe.
Now the book of the Revelation does speak to the destruction of Babylon the great and as being "overthrown" in a day. The question that remains then is whether Babylon the great is a literal city or symbolic of the system of this world. Perhaps it's both, scripture appears to be true on multiple levels with regard to application. I'm inclined to believe that we'll all know soon enough.
I agree with the above. Increasing frequency and intensity just like birth pains. But birth of what? Does the analogy extend that far, or would we be delving into speculation we ought to stay clear of.
What does concern me is Jesus warning in the following verses... And for those who think some rapture is their escape hatch, take note ...
KJV Matthew 24
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
After the natural disasters wreak havoc, "they" deliver you up to be afflicted, killed, and hated by all nations. First, who is "they", and who is "you"? They can only refer to those mentioned previously in verse 7, the nations that were at each other's throats, now united against...you. Who was Christ referring to as you? The church of course. So we can expect an increase in natural disasters, but immediately after the nations that are today fighting one another, will join forces, unite, likely in response to the disasters that effect the whole planet. In Luke Jesus describes a time when all the world will be perplexed at what is going on, and see no way out. Uniting under such duress would be a logical step to take for the world, and I see a great mass of the Christian world joining them, having lost faith and resorting to worldly means to survive the crisis. Remember 9/11? Did not this very scenario take place then? Everyone and their dog went to church... How much more when not just one city is affected, but the whole world. The question is, why blame the church? I have the answer to that, but be interested of anyone else is thinking.
What does concern me is Jesus warning in the following verses... And for those who think some rapture is their escape hatch, take note ...
KJV Matthew 24
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
After the natural disasters wreak havoc, "they" deliver you up to be afflicted, killed, and hated by all nations. First, who is "they", and who is "you"? They can only refer to those mentioned previously in verse 7, the nations that were at each other's throats, now united against...you. Who was Christ referring to as you? The church of course. So we can expect an increase in natural disasters, but immediately after the nations that are today fighting one another, will join forces, unite, likely in response to the disasters that effect the whole planet. In Luke Jesus describes a time when all the world will be perplexed at what is going on, and see no way out. Uniting under such duress would be a logical step to take for the world, and I see a great mass of the Christian world joining them, having lost faith and resorting to worldly means to survive the crisis. Remember 9/11? Did not this very scenario take place then? Everyone and their dog went to church... How much more when not just one city is affected, but the whole world. The question is, why blame the church? I have the answer to that, but be interested of anyone else is thinking.
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The Christians have always been a target for oppressive governments, because they may oppose popular ideologies.
But it may be made worse by the increase in prophecies. Suppose God started announcing the disasters that he is sending.
Taken
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When will natural disasters occur?
Endtimes tells us, disasters / tribulations will occur AND increase in occurance in the last day'S'.
Open eyes, open ears; disasters are happening AND increasing in occurance.
Last day'S are already in effect, unfolding before our eyes.
The last day'S will come to a close with events and disasters that will "almost" wipe out all living things upon the earth.
God Bless,
Taken
Taken
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quietthinker
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That sounds a pretty likely scenario brakelite. I find it both exciting and alarming while keeping an eye on the various developments around the world. None of this will be done in a corner. For those with eyes to see it will be obvious as they track it. For those whose paradigm does not factor in the unfolding events, let alone the ability to interpret them, a counterfeit Gospel will disable their vision and many will be taken by surprise just as the flood took the inhabitants in Noah's time by surprise even though they were warned during the 120 yrs that the ark was being built. As you know, he was mocked just like those who today try to warn earths inhabitants.
What is coming is going to be different though. It will not be an atheistic or secular world pitting itself against believers as had been so often the case in the past. It will be a repeat of the dark ages...a church controlled government believing it is doing God's service by freeing the world of what the establishment deem heretics. It will be a parallel to Cain and Abel. Read revelation 13. The issue... Worship.
The protagonists... Those who have the mark of the beast, and those who have the seal of God, who keep the commandments of God through faith in and of Jesus.
The scene... Global.
The weapons of warfare... Deception.
So it is a battle between brothers. Between two opposing sets of believers... One worshipping according to the commandments of God, as did Abel, the other according to the traditions and teachings of man, as did Cain.
Remembering the real war is between Christ and Satan. Whatever choices we make between now and the final crisis, must have Jesus as the focus and at the centre of every doctrine... Every practice. And as the source of every doctrine and practice. Not included as an afterthought to give the appearance of the sacred, but to be placed as the integral focal point and center hub from which all doctrine emanates.
Any mixing of the profane with the sacred will be condemned.
KJV Isaiah 35
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Hidden In Him
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Greetings, elijahgeneration.
About the notion that it would be one mass event, several have basically answered your question already, but I prefer it when I have specific proof from the Greek regarding a doctrine, and if you'll notice all the words in Luke 21:11 are used in the plural. "There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven." This proves it will not be one mass event but a large number of events that occur during what scripture calls "the Day of the Lord," a time period that may stretch the course of several months if not years.
Hope this helps.
Blessings in Christ,
Hidden In Him
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