“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Mark 13:8
July 1, 2026
Two massive earthquakes have devastated Venezuela. Perhaps tens of thousands of people have been killed. Earthquakes are a part of the groaning of creation as it awaits its redemption (Rom. 8:19-22). Two ecologically catastrophic events have altered the original paradise of God for man. The fall of man is part of the creation being “subjected to futility.” Add to that the universal flood of Noah’s day with the breaking up of the earth’s crust. Nature went into a violent upheaval. As the “fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Gen. 7:11). Earthquakes will occur in the day of the Lord before the soon arrival of the Messiah (Matt. 24:8; Lk. 21:11). We are not there yet, but earthquakes do portent the judgment of God upon the city of man in the last days. An earthquake will occur on the Mount of Olives at the Second Coming of Christ (Zech. 14:4,5). How does God want His people to respond to earthquakes? Our world is broken and it can’t be fixed by man. We are called to acts of mercy to those who are the victims of an earthquake. God’s mercy is to be seen in our mercies given to others. Earthquakes have been called God’s footsteps toward a final judgment. They are a call to repentance. We all deserve to die because we are sinners. Where would you and I be one minute after tons of concrete fell and crushed the life out of us? “God uses disaster as a megaphone to call attention to our guilt and destination” (D.A. Carson).
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Reflections:
Have I prayed for the people of Venezuela, the relief efforts, and the gospel needs there?