How do natural disasters fit into last day-events?

“There will be great EARTHQUAKES, FAMINES and PESTILENCES in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. When you see these things happening, you know that THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.”
—Luke 21:11, 31.

Skeptics might say, “So what? There have always been famines and earthquakes.” But think about famines for a moment. Isn’t it rather amazing that a world which can send men to the moon, CANNOT feed all its people. How is it that those images of starving kids with distended bellies persist on the news, when many countries grow more food than they know what to do with?

Jesus knew that famines would persist, that selfish human nature, corrupt governments, and armed conflicts would persist—and grow worse toward the end of time. These factors are what have made recent famines so devastating.

But what about earthquakes? Check these statistics on major earthquakes. According to the World Almanac of 1999, century after century of the Christian era there has been a striking increase in major earthquakes. In the 18th century there were at least 6 major earthquakes, in the 19th century at least 7 major earthquakes, and more than 100 major earthquakes in the 20th century. So the evidence grows more dramatic as we get nearer to our present day. These figures confirm Jesus’ prophecy.

And the world hasn’t stopped shaking: Armenia, India, Mexico, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Turkey, Greece, Taiwan . . . and the list goes on and on. These phenomena are reaching a crescendo—“the kingdom of God is near!”

How many earthquakes will there be here and now in our 21st century, and where will they be? Will our 21st century bring hundreds more earthquakes, or the coming of the King of kings?