Natural Disasters—Are They Getting Worse?
|
Posted By: on May 16, 2008 China quake leaves 4.6m homeless From correspondents in Beijing May 16, 2008 09:34pm Article from: Agence France-Presse MORE than 4.8 million people have been left homeless in China's southwestern Sichuan province by this week's earthquake, a senior local official said today. A total of 4,807,200 people have been forced into "temporary shelter" in the province, Li Chengyun, the vice governor of Sichuan, told a news conference. More than 50,000 people are estimated to have died in Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake, China's deadliest natural disaster in a generation. SOON—AN END to All Disasters “Children and children’s children. Hear! . . . Sooner or later this mountain takes fire. But before this happens there are mutterings and roarings and earthquakes. Smoke and flames and lightning are spewed forth, the air trembles and rumbles and howls. Flee so long as you can . . . If you despise it, if goods and chattels are dearer to you than life, it will punish your recklessness and greed. Do not trouble about your hearth and home, but flee without hesitation.” THAT warning, from the book Earth Shock, by Andrew Robinson, was inscribed on a memorial tablet at Portici—a town at the foot of Mount Vesuvius in Italy—after the volcano erupted in 1631. The eruption claimed over 4,000 lives. “By a twist of fate,” says Robinson, “it was this eruption of 1631 . . . that made Vesuvius a household name.” How so? The reconstruction of Portici led to the discovery of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both cities had been smothered when Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E. Pliny the Younger, a Roman who survived that disaster and later became a governor, wrote of unusual warning tremors. He, his mother, and others acted on the warning and survived. A Warning Sign for Our Time Today we are fast approaching the end of the economic, social, and political systems of the world. How do we know that? Because Jesus Christ foretold a series of world developments that would provide a sign indicating that God’s day of reckoning is near. Like a volcano that rumbles, smokes, and spits out cinders, that composite sign includes great wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences—all of which have ravaged the world on an unprecedented scale since the year 1914.—Matthew 24:3-8; Luke 21:10, 11; Revelation 6:1-8. Are you taking note of the warning that the present world is in its last days? But Jesus’ warning sign also includes a message of hope. “This good news of the kingdom,” he said, “will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Notice that Jesus called the Kingdom message “good news.” It is indeed good news because God’s Kingdom, a heavenly government in the hands of Christ Jesus, will undo all the harm that humans have caused. Additionally, it will cause natural disasters to cease.—Luke 4:43; Revelation 21:3, 4. Indeed, as a man on earth, Jesus demonstrated his power over the elements by calming a life-threatening storm. In awe, his fearful disciples said: “Who really is this, for he orders even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25) Today, Jesus is, not a mere human, but a powerful spirit. Hence, controlling the natural elements so that they do no harm to his subjects will present no problem to him!—Psalm 2:6-9; Revelation 11:15. Some may view all of this as wishful thinking. But keep in mind that Bible prophecy—unlike human promises and predictions—has a flawless record, including the prophecies we have seen fulfilled since 1914. (Isaiah 46:10; 55:10, 11) Yes, earth’s peaceful future is guaranteed. Our future will be too if we take God’s Word to heart and heed its loving warning concerning the earth-shaking events that are soon to occur.—Matthew 24:42, 44; John 17:3. Appeared in Awake! July 22, 2005 If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
 |
WOMEN OF GOD in UNITY Working Together5 Anointed Christian Women talking about things happening in our communities Throughout the nation and should be change with our help daily. And there will be 2 recording gospel Artist at this event p ...more
Min Sammy Jackson • 36 Views • March 9th, 2026 |
 |
WOMEN OF GOD in UNITY Working Together5 Anointed Christian Women talking about things happening in our communities Throughout the nation and should be change with our help daily. And there will be 2 recording gospel Artist at this event p ...more
Min Sammy Jackson • 37 Views • March 9th, 2026 |
 |
Behind the Wheel of the Hot 2026 Kia Sportage ReviewCompact SUVs remain competitive, and Kia’s best-selling model for 2026, the Sportage, gets a major mid-cycle update to stay ahead. During a week with the new Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige AWD, I tested ...more
Randi Payton • 154 Views • March 5th, 2026 |
 |
Season OpenerOpen door looks inviting; You see noone near the vehicle yet the door has been wide open for an unusual amount of time!
🤔💭“maybe I should help them out or should I just stick to th ...more
How May I Help You NC • 163 Views • March 4th, 2026 |
 |
Motivational Artist MARCUS PARKER Creates Rize Mode A AI Powered Artist@MARCUSPARKER #MARCUSPARKER
@RIZEMODE #RIZEMODE
@WISEDIVAS #WISEDIVAS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Underground Motivator MARCUS PARKER Launches AI Artists and New Guide to Help Others Build Their Own ...more
LaMarr Blackmon • 201 Views • March 2nd, 2026 |
Popular Blogs
 |
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 70,862,530 Views • January 27th, 2009 |
 |
VISINE ALERT!!!Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug.
When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 118,520 Views • May 23rd, 2009 |
 |
"Chain Hang Low" check out the real meaning of the Lyrics!Recently there is a new artist out of Saint Louis that goes by the name JIBBS. Jibbs debut single "Chain hang low" has a history that most people are not aware of. The particular nursery rhyme that th ...more
Tyhesha Judge-Fogle • 75,932 Views • November 9th, 2006 |
 |
HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing CardsVendor: Charles Jones
Item Price: $20.00
Price Includes Shipping: Yes - Shipping Included
Item Description:
Pantheon Series - Divine 9 - Premium Playing Cards (choose Gold Series or Silve ...more
How May I Help You NC • 61,766 Views • December 2nd, 2018 |
