Wars and Natural Disasters

2021-12-07

There are a few parallel passages that say a lot about the end times. There is the Olivet Discourse, which is in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Revelation 6 and 7 also say the same sequence of events. The Revelation passage talks about seven seals that are opened by the Lord Jesus Christ which are prerequisites before the wrath of God is unleashed on the earth. We will look at the first four here. They are listed in the same order in these passages.

First is the rise of the Antichrist. Jesus in the Olivet Discourse mentions false Christs in the plural (Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8). Only one is mentioned in Revelation 6:2. In a previous post, we discussed this man.

Second are wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9-10). Revelation 6:4 also talks about peace being removed from the earth. There is a lot of war and destruction now, as there has been throughout history. Today is Pearl Harbor Day, and that war caused much devastation and loss of life. From this, we can tell that this war will be far worse than anything else in history.

Third and fourth are widespread famines and disease (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11). In Revelation 6:6, we see that the cost of wheat and barley is for a day’s wages (penny, cf. Matthew 20:2). Also, one quarter of the world population is killed by various means. We are in the middle of a pandemic right now, and we do not see those numbers.

We see that these events precede the great tribulation, which is the fifth seal.

These events are sovereignly executed by Jesus Christ. From a human perspective, we can see how these events could be related. One king comes to establish his kingdom, other kingdoms revolt against him in war, and ultimately fail. Maybe the Antichrist is killed here and revives. All the death and destruction cause food shortages and disease. The Antichrist shows himself as a savior in the midst, demands worship, and the world follows him because “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4). Any rival Christ, like the real one, is not going to be tolerated, and therefore, the tribulation ensues. Maybe they will ask Christians, “Where was your Christ through all that?” Who knows all the details other than what is told to us in the Scriptures? We can see, however, that out of chaos will emerge the Antichrist, and he will rule with cruelty toward God’s people.

Concerning these events, Jesus tells us, “See that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6). “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).