Disaster Will Come Upon Disaster

Watching the news is like watching one long disaster movie. One wild fire follows another, destroying hundreds of homes and thousands of wooded acres. One flood follows another, washing away everything in its path. The intensity and frequency of disasters is increasing.

Storm after storm flies across the country, dumping torrents of rain or mountains of snow, wreaking havoc with damaging wind, vicious lightening, destructive hail and tornados. There are earthquakes, bridge collapses, mud slides, drought, tsunamis, sinkholes, hurricanes, train wrecks, industrial explosions, environmental accidents, disease outbreaks, famines and mass shootings. There is no pause, no rest, as lives and communities are destroyed as we go from one disaster to another.

“Disaster will come upon disaster” are the very words God used to warn Israel through His prophet Ezekiel. “For the land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence… Destruction comes; they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster will come upon disaster…” (Ezekiel 7:23–26).

“I will heap disasters on them,” God warns Israel through Moses. Their calamity would be at hand if they corrupted themselves and were a perverse generation, becoming the vine of Sodom and fields of Gomorrah (Deuteronomy 32).

If you have lived for several decades, you know the scale and intensity of disasters is increasing. If you are skeptical, just ask the insurance industry. They will tell you about the tremendous increase in natural disasters in the last 50 years.

Serious Bible students know that historically, God has intervened many times in the affairs of mankind and brought disasters upon disobedient nations. The flood of Noah’s day is certainly an example of God’s supernatural intervention, but other recorded examples of nations upon whom God poured out disaster include Egypt, Babylon, Israel and Judah.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God says that He alone is God and He creates calamity (Isaiah 45:7). He warns mankind not to strive with his Maker (v. 9). The prophet Amos warns Israel it will be punished for its lawlessness, explaining that events don’t happen without a cause, and “If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?” (Amos 3:6).

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God warned that just as a potter has power over the clay, He has the power over mankind, and “if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it” (Jeremiah 18:8). God warned Judah, “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good” (v. 11).

Jesus Christ told His disciples that in the last days there would be wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes as the beginning of sorrows before the tribulation.

We see in our nations a total disregard of God and His Word being despised. Is it any wonder that lawlessness and disasters of every description are also increasing? If we continue down this slippery slope, it is inevitable that to disaster will heap upon disaster leading to national destruction unless we turn around.

Ancient Nineveh was warned by Jonah of its coming destruction, but the king of Nineveh listened and made his people pray and turn from evil and violence. “And God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10).

God wants all people to turn from the way of wickedness. “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

We can avoid disaster. Be sure to read Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return and The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.