Floods in diverse places.

In the past several weeks, extensive flooding has inundated the U.S.A.’s East Coast and upper Mid-West, Jamaica, Barbados and Cuba, parts of Europe, the Southeast Asian nations of Indonesia and Viet Nam, and the Chinese island of Hainan.  As of Wednesday morning, the death toll across Asia had reached 110, with tens of thousands displaced, and bridges and homes destroyed due to the flooding (Associated Press, October 6, 2010).  In Jamaica, 11 people died and thousands went without power and water for several days (Canadian Press, October 3, 2010).  In the American upper Mid-West, some towns were inundated with up to 12 feet (nearly 4 meters) of floodwater and entire towns were destroyed (CBS.com, September 25, 2010).

In Luke 21:8-11, Jesus said that “signs of the end of the age” would include pestilences, earthquakes in various places, and fearful sights.  The prophet Amos foretold that rain would fall on some cities while drought would affect other areas (Amos 4:7).  As we come closer to the end of the age, we will see increasing natural and man-made disasters… signs that Christ’s return is approaching.