When Jesus was asked about the signs that would mark the end of the age and His return, one of the signs He referenced was the rise in earthquakes.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” – Matthew 24:7

The Book of Revelation also identifies some of the signs preceding the end of the age as earthquakes and blood red moons.

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” – Revelation 6:12

Nepal Earthquake

Now we know that there have always been earthquakes and their associated volcanoes and there have been blood red moons since the time of Jesus. However, Jesus gave us another vital clue about them. He said these would be the “beginning of sorrows.” The Greek word that is translated is ōdin, a word whose primary meaning is “the pain of childbirth, travail pain, birth pangs.” In other words, these signs would be like birth pangs, which grow in intensity and frequency as the time of birth approaches. Have earthquakes been increasing in severity and frequency? The answer is yes for the United States! Consider this report from Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy: Has there been an increase in major earthquakes?

“Within the central and eastern United States, the number of earthquakes has increased dramatically over the past few years. Between the years 1973–2008, there was an average of 21 earthquakes of magnitude three and larger in the central and eastern United States. This rate jumped to an average of 99 M3+ earthquakes per year in 2009–2013, and the rate continues to rise. In 2014, alone, there were 659 M3 and larger earthquakes. (Posted April 20, 2015  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/)“

While there is disagreement about the answer to this question recent news seems to agree with the quote above. Another activity that is closely related to earthquakes is that of volcanoes. That there has been a dramatic increase in volcano activity is undeniable. 40 volcanoes around the globe are erupting right now, and only 6 of them are not along the Ring of Fire. This is well above the yearly average of 35 in the 20th century.

The Ring of Fire is a volcano band that lies around the Pacific Ocean consisting of 40 major volcanoes. Over 30 of them are now erupting. The major ones that are not are mostly found along the western coast of the United States. If they were to erupt, Washington, Oregon, and California could very well be caught in an economic disaster at the very least.

These are but a few of the signs Jesus predicted would lead into the end of the age. It is as we witness all of them occurring together that we should seek the Lord like never before! As one who watches for these signs, it appears to me that we are drawing very close to the time of birth. It is certainly time to call for the midwives, those who know how to safely deliver. There is only one way to come through this birth and that is to be hid in the “ark of safety”, which is Jesus Christ. The way to do that is to call on His name for forgiveness of your sins, humbly repent and begin living a righteous life, which is a life lived according to God’s rules – not man’s!