Earthquakes foretell the end

THE EDITOR: I would like through the medium of your paper, to express the following observations. Of all biblical prophecies concerning future events, those pronounced by our Saviour as found in Matthew 24 and the other gospels, seem to be more relevant to our time. Matthew 24: 7 states, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.” Because of the severe quake that has hit the city of Bam in Iran recently, I would like for us to centralise our attention on earthquakes. An earthquake is defined by seismologists as the tearing and dragging of rocks against each other as a fault forms resulting in a sudden jolt as the earth’s crust gives way.

It is not that earthquakes were unknown during Old Testament and the beginning of New Testament times, but have to do with the intensity during the final days of earth’s history. According to recorded earthquakes, in the first century 15 destructive earthquakes were recorded; in the tenth century 32; in the 18th century 640; in the 19th century 2,119; and in the 20th century 30,000 a year. During the 20th century on July 28, 1976, 240,000 were killed in Tangshan, China. On December 16, 1920, 200,000 were killed in Gansu, China with the amazing intensity of 8.6 recorded on the Ritcher scale. Any earthquake that takes the life of even a single individual is one too many. But the recent earthquake in Bam, Iran should not be totally unexpected as the Middle East area has a history of earthquakes. We can only sympathise with the people and government of that area in the loss of lives and property.

When the force of nature strike there could hardly be any defence against them even though shockproof buildings are recommended in areas like the Middle East and other areas as well. While people in certain areas of our globe have to contend with earthquakes such as what occurred in Bam recently, we in the Caribbean have to contend with hurricanes and to a lesser extent with earthquakes whenever they hit. There is no area on our globe in which the forces of nature cannot hit at any time. Jesus said during His earthly ministry that when these events begin to materialise to look upward for the end of all things as we know them is at hand. So to be forewarned is to be prepared; for drastic changes are imminent.

DA COSTA MC DONALD
Point Fortin