December 6, 2005

Natural Disasters: Is the End Near?

by Charles Cooper

The prophetic signs the Lord indicate in Matthew 24 are familiar even to novice students of the Bible. Wars, famines, and earthquakes, along with other disasters in nature, will plague the earth in the days that immediately precede the Lord’s return. Even those who are not particularly religious are aware of the Lord’s predictions in the Olivet Discourse. Therefore, it is not surprising in our presently charged atmosphere that many people are wondering what’s going on. The hurricanes, earthquakes, the tsunami of southeast Asia and the tightening noose upon Israel are driving people's desire to know if the Lord’s return is near.

It is understandable that people would associate modern, phenomenal events with biblical predictions about the future. However, similarity alone is insufficient to conclude that the biblical fulfillment of Matthew 24 is occurring; rather, that fulfillment is a package deal. The Lord indicates that the events that will precede His return are not spread out over decades or centuries, but are in fact limited to no more than seven years.

By referring to Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 in Matthew 24:15, the Lord limits the time frame of the events that follows Matthew 24:15. Daniel specifically limits the time following the Abomination of Desolation to three and a half years plus a few months. Less precise is Daniel’s time frame for the first half of his week. However, the Lord gives several clues to the time period that will govern the fulfillment of Matthew 24:4-14. The primary indicator concerns the birth analogy He uses to build His prophetic scenario. Particularly, the Lord speaks of the beginning birth pangs, hard labor and the ultimate deliverance that will characterize this period.

Matthew 24:8 states, “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs (NASB).” It refers to the events connected with the first indications that nine months of pregnancy are about to come to an end. “These things” define “the beginning birth pangs.” “All these things” refer specifically to the things mentioned in Matthew 24:5-7, i.e., false christs, wars, rumors of wars, national conflicts, famines and earthquakes. These things are said to be “beginning birth pangs.” “Beginning birth pangs” only refer to events connected with the imminent birth of the baby. No woman experiences “beginning birth pangs” for nine months. Thus, the Lord is not referring to the length of the pregnancy, but those events connected with its termination.

That the birth analogy is controlling the Lord’s directive is confirmed by His second reference to the birth process. Matthew 24:9a states, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation….” Matthew 24:9-12 describe the events that follow “the beginning birth pangs” as elements of “tribulation.” The Greek term Thlipsis is variously translated in the New Testament. “Tribulation,” “travail” and “persecution” are three possible translations depending on the context. In John 16:21, Jesus indicates that a woman does experience “travail” in the birthing process. In both John 16:21 and Matthew 24:9, the Lord uses the same term to describe the second aspect of birthing a baby. Consequently, the elements of hard labor that will characterize the days just prior to the Lord’s return include: (1) death; (2) external hatred; (3) a falling away; (4) internal hatred; (5) false prophets; and (6) loveless society.

The final element of the Lord’s analogy concerns the actual deliverance. Just as the baby comes after hard labor, so the Lord promises deliverance of those who survive the intense persecution just prior to His return. Matthew 24:13 states, “But the one who endures to the end, it is he who shall be saved.“ Since salvation is the promised outcome of physical survival, it is clear that Jesus is emphasizing physical deliverance. The time frame between the onset of beginning birth pangs and the final delivery of a baby is a matter of hours in a normal pregnancy. Therefore to suggest that Matthew 24:4-14 signals events that will transpire over decades or centuries totally misses the analogy the Lord utilized.

Natural disasters are a part of human experience. What is unusual in our present context is the media’s ability to make local events a world-wide phenomenon. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now.” Creation longs to be released from the sin that has corrupted it. It “groans” to be released. What is groaning? Groaning is a deep, inward response to suffering. It is both personal and intense, an agony so deep it cannot be put into words. Could it be that natural disasters are the groans of creation? As with anyone in deep suffering, the groans wax and wane depending on the moment. Nature’s disasters wax and wane with time. Some seasons are worse than others. However, that final season just days before creation is released from corruption will not require CNN’s announcement. All will know it.