Last Dec. 26, one of the greatest oceanic earthquakes (and the tsunami it produced) killed some 200,000 people surrounding the Indian Ocean. It left another 100,000 missing and presumed dead. Remarkably, on March 28 a related aftershock measured a whopping 8.7 on the Richter scale.

More and more Christians and others, including modern media, are searching the Bible to find answers to such significant modern catastrophes. Jesus Christ gave indicators of the end time, including increased earthquake activity in different places (Matthew 24:3-8).

But the end time can also include the past nearly 2,000 years. The apostle John referred to it being "the last hour" in his day (1 John 2:18). The apostle Peter said that "the end of all things is at hand" (1 Peter 4:7). Depending on the context, the end time can include the past nearly 2,000 years.

By simple passage of time, we are closer to the latter days of the end time than we've ever been. In The Good News we regularly discuss world news in the light of prophetic signs of the end time. No one can know the exact time of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36), but we can know that earthquakes will continue to increase.

Remarkably, there will be an unprecedented worldwide earthquake that will shake the earth at the time Christ descends (Revelation 16:18-19). Earthquakes are natural phenomena that relate to the elasticity and temporality of the earth's surface. Still God uses earthquakes to get humankind's attention in hopes of turning us from our selfish ways to His unselfish service. (Source: USA Today.)