The Ring of Fire has awakened and Christian “end times” blogs and web-sites have exploded with observations in the last few days, speculating about how these earth-shaking events match up to what Jesus said regarding His return to this earth, and the end of the age.
 
For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be hunger, and pestilence, and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:7b)
 
Look at the recent earth shaking evidence for “earthquakes in various places!” Wednesday, April 13, 2016 a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. There were no deaths reported, but dozens of injuries. The next day, southwestern Japan experienced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake. A little more than 24 hours later a second quake, magnitude 7.0 again rocked Japan. The two quakes killed at least 41 people. Late Saturday, April 16, 2016, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Ecuador, the death toll is still rising but at last estimate more than 230 people and over 1,500 injured. This was followed by more than 130 aftershocks.  As of writing this article, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, there have been 28 magnitude 2.5+ earthquakes in the world in the last 24 hours! What is going on?
 
Jesus was right on when He said there would be earthquakes in various places.  However, He did so in the context of saying that earthquakes are normal, natural occurrences, that will continue to happen until the end. In regard to such things as earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, and famines, Jesus said,
 
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not troubled. For all this must take place, but it is not yet the end. (Matthew 24: 6)
  
You can read Jesus’ words regarding His return, and the end of the age, in the Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Jesus started off that talk by warning His disciples about end-of-the-age related deception. He knew that people would associate natural catastrophes and severe human hardships with the “end of the world.” So, immediately following His warning about deception, He warned that things like earthquakes are normal and will not serve as a signal of His return. Earthquakes have been around since the beginning of the Earth’s history, and per usual, will continue to contribute to the planet’s ever changing geologic record and geography up until Jesus’ return. It would be far more unusual if the earthquakes stopped!
 
Jesus went on in The Olivet Discourse to inform His disciples about the things that would indicate His return to earth was near. He talked about the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by the Prophet Daniel, a great falling away from the faith, and wide spread persecution of those who identify themselves with Him (Christians). The Apostle Paul wrote about these same things (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). By utilizing the Olivet Discourse passage along with the scripture in Daniel, which Jesus cited, as well as other prophecies in the Old and New Testaments, we can put together a list of events that will be unmistakable for those who know about, and are watchful for them.
 
Many authors, pastors, and commentators have weighed in with their opinions that earthquakes will serve as a sign that the end of the age will occur soon. I personally have witnessed such false claims for the last 40 years.  In his book, The Apocalypse Code, well known Pop-Christian culture, end times author, Hal Lindsey, implies that we are near the end of the age, when he cites “experts” who say the frequency of earthquakes are increasing; but, are we really seeing a trend today of more earthquakes?
 
I began seriously watching earthquake data almost 20 years ago. During one check of the U.S. Geological web-site in 1997 I recorded that the Mammoth Lake area in California experienced 944 quakes up to a magnitude of 3.8 in one weekend!  In December of 2005 I recorded 21 earthquakes ranging from magnitude 2.7 to 6.1 throughout the world in a 24-hour period. When I checked in August 23, 2015, I recorded that there had been 28 earthquakes over a magnitude 2.5 in the preceding 24 hours.
 
There truly are a lot of earthquakes in “diverse places!” However, contrary to Mr. Lindsey’s claims, at this point, according to the real experts, earthquakes have not increased. Only our awareness and the media’s sensationalism of earthquakes has increased. Here is the answer to a “frequently asked question” found on the National Geological Survey’s website:
 
Question: Why are we having so many earthquakes? Has earthquake activity been increasing?
 
Answer: Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant throughout this century and, according to our records, have actually seemed to decrease in recent years.
 
Science and historical data tells us that many modern day prophecy teachers and commentators are giving us alarming and false information. They are contributing to the very deception of which Jesus warned. Pointing to earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, pestilence (disease), and civil disturbances as signs of the soon return of Jesus is a misunderstanding and misuse of Bible Prophecy. 180 degrees off, these teachers have taken things that Jesus warned would not serve as a signs, and claimed that they do serve as signs.
 
Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, etc., all rightfully sound like yesterday’s headlines. It is because they have been in yesterday’s headlines since there have been headlines. Even with the best of intentions, many pastors, teachers, authors, and commentators, have perpetually used such news to sensationalize whatever it is they are “selling.” Well intended or not, through engaging in this “shell game,” they are aiding and abetting the enemy in distracting and deceiving followers of Jesus into watching the wrong events in the world. It is as though they believe that in order to keep people interested in the return of Jesus, they need to hype it up a bit. Seriously? The real return of Jesus will be spectacular enough and does not need to be sensationalized!
 
It certainly was the “end of the world” for those who died in the recent earthquakes. However, the geological record, as well as countless ruins from antiquity, stand as memorials to the fact that big earthquakes, like wars, famines, and pestilence, have been occurring for a long, long time, and Jesus has not yet returned.  So, what’s the answer to the question, “what is going on?” As tragic as these earthquakes have been for those living in Ecuador, Japan and Myanmar and the families abroad that have lost loved ones, it is still just another day on a planet that is “groaning and travailing,” as it has since creation.
 
There are a few, very significant earthquakes that will occur in association with the return of Jesus. The first of these biblical sized earthquakes will immediately precede the return of Jesus, and will shake the entire world. Every “mountain and island” will be moved “from their place.” It will cause the seas to “roar,” and will occur at the same time, or close to the same time, that the “sun will go dark,” the “moon will turn blood red,” and the stars will “appear to fall from the sky” (see Revelation 6:12-16, Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28).  None of us will probably be sitting around blogging about such a quake a few days after it happens. In fact, if you are an elect of God, saved by the blood of Jesus, and such a quake occurs, “look up” because Jesus is about ready to appear, and you are in for the ride of your life!
 
No one knows the day or hour when Jesus will return. Like sin and deception, earthquakes, wars, famine, disease, and terrorism will continue to routinely vex the world up until He returns.  Those who are waiting on that return must know the scriptures well in order to guard against deception. Tragically, even from within the Church. The watchful will remain alert and awake, while they patiently wait for the real signs which Jesus gave. Those signs alone will truly indicate that His return is near.
 
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How does being “biblically watchful” apply to the raucous race for the White House currently vexertaining (A combination of the words “vexing” and “entertaining”) the land of the free and home of the brave? Is there anything significant going on with the current presidential election process in regards to watching for the return of Jesus and the end of the age? More specifically, maybe you’re asking yourself, is there anything in the Bible about a rich and boastful, orange-skinned descendant of Japheth, who would be “king” that desires to build a “beautiful wall” to keep out the “kingdom of the south?”

Being “biblically watchful” for our Lord’s return, is about becoming knowledgeable of the prophetic scriptures. That is, studying them to a practical level of understanding. It is to take that knowledge and wisely apply it as we observe and do business in the world around us; comprehending our observations of the world through the lens of the divinely inspired Word of God, watching for the scriptural signs that will signal the end of the age, striking down false signs, and guarding against deception. Finally, being biblically watchful is to live as a faithful servant of Jesus as we await His return to this earth with certainty and expectancy.

Having Biblical knowledge of prophetic scriptures is the only way for us to recognize if events in our time are significant to the end of the age.  Let’s assume that together we have an adequate level of such knowledge while we begin moving forward deciphering what is going on in the world around us. As we do so, it is important to follow two important rules: no filling in blanks where the Bible did not give us details and no synthesizing possible scenarios that may take place based on our finite and limited human perspective. To do either of these things is to come dangerously close to prophesying without a license.

Have we seen any specific biblical signs fulfilled in relation to the presidential election process?
·       Has Bernie ran on a platform of implanting national identity chips in everyone’s foreheads and confirming a covenant with Israel and others? No, at least not that the media has reported.
·       Has Hilary suggested that reinstituting the Jewish ritual of animal sacrifice on the temple mount in Jerusalem may hold the answer to peace in the middle east? Hmmm. No, I haven’t heard it mentioned.
·       As the result of the “smack down” World Wrestling Federation-like debates, has there been a massive falling away from the Christian faith?  Well, no human can judge hearts, but the answer must be “no” based on Pew Research Center data.
·       Did anyone personally see “the Donald” rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns? Nope, although his hair does get mistaken for a lot of things, I am sure that such an event would have been a world-wide trending topic.

For the most part, what my Bible filter is telling me, is it is just another day living in a fallen world full of sinners. A fallen world, which is “groaning and travailing” (Romans 8:22). 
How then should “faithful servants of Jesus” be navigating through this perilous, but non-end of the age time of elections as we continue to wait on the Lord’s return? What should our reaction be? How should we make our opinions known? Who should we vote for when the choice seems unclear?

As every servant knows, everywhere they go, and in everything they do, they represent their master first. Whatever is done as a servant of Jesus, should be done with that in mind; “…whatever you do, do all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). 

Jesus always acted in love. He would have His servants do the same. He never had “off duty” time, nor do His servants. To act in love, is to fulfill the law (Rom 13:8). However, how to best show love is sometimes a complicated issue requiring a great deal of wisdom. We most often think of acts of love taking the form of patiently and kindly fulfilling the physical and emotional needs of others, even when it is not easy or convenient for us to do. However, I retired from a profession where it is sometimes necessary to show love by Tazing someone with 50,000 volts for 5 seconds, in order to keep them from harming themselves or others.  For Jesus, although showing love included feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and casting out demons, sometimes love meant throwing over the tables of the money changers and calling those in positions of authority “blind guides” and “serpents.”

Whether it is in the role of being a servant of Jesus, a Priest of God, or citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, I relate well to a little story found in the book of Joshua. Joshua, and the “Children of Israel,” had just wandered around the wilderness for 40 years and were now outside of the City of Jericho when Joshua ran into a man who was standing before him with a drawn sword. Having the task at hand, to overtake the City of Jericho, Joshua asked the “man” if he was on Israel’s side, or their enemies’. The “man” answered, “Neither; I am the commander of the army of the Lord.”  Recognizing this was not just a man, Joshua fell down to worship what he finally recognized as an angel.

This story reminds me that sometimes rather than choosing a “side” on some temporal earthbound issue, I am to keep my attention on my Master’s business. My world is to center around my Master and my thoughts on “things above,” which have eternal and lasting value. Again, love can be our guide in decision making: For example, is it loving to let the weak and helpless be harmed or oppressed, go hungry or unclothed, or should you take action when you have the ability to do so?  At the same time, is it loving to enable people in their slothfulness and sin?

Those of us who God has blessed to live in the 21st century in the United States and are over the age of 18, have the right to vote. We need to cast that servant sized vote with our Master’s interests in mind, realizing “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).  In other words, according to His divine purposes, no one is going to get elected, if God does not want them elected.  So, if you are His servant, whether you understand what He is accomplishing or not, trust God, everything is going exactly according to His plans. If you are on His side, then your “side” always wins!

Many believe it is acceptable to synthesize conspiracy theories that superimpose today’s headlines and high profile people, such as political candidates, over the top of Bible prophecy. Someday every prophecy contained in the Bible will be fulfilled perfectly and at the appointed time. Those that are watchful will recognize the signs when they occur and take appropriate action.

As we look back at the fulfilled prophecies from that future vantage point in time, will those who have engaged in wild speculation feel foolish having falsely accused people of being the “Antichrist,” or the “great whore of Babylon?” Equally as tragic, how many will have been distracted and deceived and join in the hatred generated by these products of human imagination?   Such unloving activity hardly seems like the type of thing a faithful servant of Jesus would want to associate with the good name of her or his Master.