Six days ago an earthquake measuring 7.8 struck with devastating effect in Nepal. The official death told has passed 5,000, but it could easily be three times that of more. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Many of Nepal's ancient temples collapsed into piles of broken brick and wooden kindling. The cost of rebuilding has been estimated at $5 billion, or one-fifth of Nepal's total GDP. Nepal's news media is calling this the Great Earthquake, but as terrible as it was, it is a "walk in the park" compared to what the Bible prophesies for the future. Daniel called it "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Daniel 12:1), and Jesus called it "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). Every Bible prophecy has come to pass precisely as prophesied, including the amazing prophesies that described every aspect of Jesus' life, including the name of His very birthplace and the words He spoke on the cross. Nothing in this life is more certain than Bible prophecy.
Jesus said the coming Tribulation will be greater than every trouble that this deeply troubled world has ever experienced. Greater than the most devastating earthquake. Greater than the rampages of any ancient tyrant. Greater than the modern world wars or the berserk ruinations of Stalin or Mao. Greater than every terrible plague and famine. Nepal's earthquake is a mere foretaste of the coming Tribulation.
Consider the loss of life. Jesus warned that the number of deaths in the Tribulation will be so far-reaching that "except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved" (Matthew 24:22).
Consider the destruction of property. In the Tribulation, there will be destruction from the great wars and from other things described in the book of Revelation, but consider the destruction that will occur from just one of the judgments that will occur at that time. "And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent..." (Revelation 16:21). A talent is more than 100 pounds.
Consider the shaking. As terrible as it was, the shaking of Nepal's recent quake was like a gentle rocking of a baby's crib compared to the following: "And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ... And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found" (Revelation 16:18, 20). I wonder what that one will measure on the Richter scale?
Consider the destruction of idols. The media is bemoaning the destruction of "Nepal's ancient heritage," referring to her oldest Hindu temples. But God condemns idolatry in the strongest terms. The very first of the Ten Commandments says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:3-4). In the coming Tribulation, every idolatrous temple and false religious system that is contrary to God's Word will be destroyed. "And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish" (Isaiah 2:17-18).
Consider the humbling of man. When an earthquake hits, it is a very humbling event. Man is utterly powerless before such things. For a little time, strutting and self-sufficiency cease. It is usually a fleeting impression, though, and soon the survivors are back to normal, which is walking in the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). In the coming Tribulation, prideful, God-rejecting men will be humbled and there will never again be a "back to normal." The Tribulation is called "the day of the Lord," because in that day the blessed Creator will be exalted to His rightful position as Lord of the earth. "Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low" (Isaiah 2:10-12).
The Bible says that judgment is God's "strange work," because what He most delights in is salvation. He has done everything He can to provide salvation to mankind by sending His only begotten Son to suffer and die on the cross to atone for man's sin. Jesus Christ rose from the dead after three days, and for 2,000 years the gospel of salvation has been proclaimed throughout the earth. The Bible has been translated into every major language (and most minor ones) and the gospel is available in every form of media known to man, from print to the Internet. There is no excuse for the fact that the vast majority of people the world over have ignored God's most gracious offer of salvation and have continued their lives in impenitence and unbelief. Friend, time is short. "Earthquakes in divers places" is one of the signs that Jesus gave of the end times. Are you ready to face your Maker?
