Natural Disasters: A Biblical Perspective
by Tom Robinson
Following are points we should keep in mind concerning the biblical perspective
on tragedies, regardless of their scale or circumstances:
1. God has said in Bible prophecy that natural disasters would grow
in frequency and intensity as the end of the age approaches—to
shake people out of their complacency and lead them to seek Him (Matthew
24:7; Luke 21:25-26; Revelation 6:12; 11:13; 16:18).
2. In His design for the world, God allows many events to run their
course according to "time and chance" (Ecclesiastes 9:11), so that many
tragedies are, for those affected, accidental and unforeseeable.
3. Those who die in accidents or natural disasters are not necessarily
greater sinners than those who survive (Luke 13:1-5).
4. Personal tragedies or calamities are not necessarily the result
of one's sins (John 9:2-3).
5. Natural disasters or accidents should humble us, helping us to see
our dependence on God to sustain and deliver us (Revelation 16:8-11).
6. Natural disasters have sometimes been the direct judgment of God
on a rebellious humanity (Genesis 6:6-7, 11-13, 17; 18:20; 19:24-25).
7. Some natural disasters are made worse by man's poor judgments (Proverbs
14:12) and age-long rejection of God and His laws, resulting in worsening
environmental and climatic conditions.
8. God is a truly loving God who is working out a great plan for all
humanity (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Corinthians 15:22-24).
9. Converted Christians who die in natural disasters will be resurrected
to immortality in the first resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 20:4-6).
10. Non-Christians who die in natural disasters, those who never had
a genuine understanding of God or real opportunity for eternal salvation,
will be raised in the second or general resurrection to live again in
the flesh with their first real opportunity to learn God's way, repent
and be saved (John 5:28-29; Matthew 12:41-42; Revelation 20:5).
11. The multitudes of humanity who are raised in the second or general
resurrection will experience joyful and abundant life under the rule
of the Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 37:12-14).
12. The sufferings experienced now in "this present evil age" (Galatians
1:4)—this era of man's self-rule under the influence of Satan
the devil—are writing a lesson of experience about what it means
to live in a world cut off from God and His ways.
13. We don't know all the reasons God brings or permits specific calamities
or why particular people are made to suffer by them, but we should trust
that in God's omniscience and ultimate wisdom He knows how to work out
what is best for everyone in the end (Romans 8:28; 1 Timothy 2:4).
14. Jesus Christ will eventually return to usher in the rule of the
Kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15; Daniel 7:14), under which natural
disasters will no longer plague mankind.
15. When all humanity is at last glorified, there will be no more pain,
suffering or sorrow (Revelation 21:4).
16. All the sufferings of this brief present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory we will ultimately experience for all eternity
to come (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18). GN
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