The 20th century saw 10 devastating earthquakes, each killing more than 50,000 men, women and children. The worst was the 1976 catastrophe that took about 650,000 lives in China. The other deadly temblors struck Japan, the former Soviet Union, Italy, Peru, Pakistan and Iran.

America is also in danger. Besides Los Angeles and San Francisco, other U.S cities that could experience major earthquake damage are Anchorage, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Las Vegas, Reno, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, St. Louis, Memphis, Atlanta, Charleston, New York, Newark and Boston (from a Federal Emergency Management Administration study released in 2000).

Modern scientists are coming to understand more and more about fault lines and the stresses of plate tectonics. They are beginning to uncover some of the mysteries of what causes earthquakes. But scientific knowledge is not a substitute for an understanding of biblical prophecy.

Consider the prophet Isaiah's description of how the earth will be rocked and laid waste, most likely during the end-time fulfillments of Christ's Olivet Prophecy (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) and similar prophecies depicted in Revelation.

"The foundations of the earth shake. The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is thoroughly shaken. The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls—never to rise again" (Isaiah 24:18-20, New International Version).

As discussed above, time and chance and the unseen evil spirit ruler of this world play a part in disasters today. But the Bible talks about the ultimate cause of a series of end-time disasters being humanity's moral conduct. Mankind rebels against God and His way of life. We cannot deny that bad things happen when God's great spiritual law is continually broken. Notice verse 21: "In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below."

Luke 21:25 may be describing end-time tsunamis. Jesus Christ said: "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea" (NIV). Witnesses described the noise of the tsunamis in Southeast Asia as the roaring of a jet engine or a freight train. People are now much more aware of the deadly force of giant ocean waves.

If you would like to understand what the Bible says is ahead for humankind, please write for our free brochures Are We Living in the Time of the End? and The Book of Revelation Unveiled. WNP