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Just when it seems that<br />
things might start to get better, another<br />
catastrophe strikes. How<br />
should we react to all these<br />
events? Will things keep getting<br />
worse?<br />
Don’t be surprised — First of<br />
all, we shouldn’t be surprised<br />
when natural disasters occur, or<br />
when the evil contained in human<br />
hearts pours out in violence, hate,<br />
and suffering of all kinds. In fact,<br />
much of what we see in the world<br />
today was predicted long ago. Two<br />
thousand years ago, Jesus said:<br />
“You will hear of wars and rumours<br />
of wars, but see to it that you are<br />
not alarmed. Such things must<br />
happen, but the end is still to<br />
come. Nation will rise against nation,<br />
and kingdom against kingdom.<br />
There will be famines and<br />
earthquakes in various places…<br />
many will turn away from the faith<br />
and will betray and hate each other…because<br />
of the increase of<br />
wickedness, the love of most will<br />
grow cold” Matthew 24:6-12.<br />
Don’t be uninformed — In<br />
the Bible, God has provided<br />
astounding details about future<br />
events. Many prophecies were fulfilled<br />
when Jesus was born (Isaiah<br />
7:14; Micah 5:2), laid down His life<br />
as a sacrifice for our sins (Isaiah<br />
53:3-6), and rose triumphantly<br />
from the dead (Psalm 16:10).<br />
Other prophecies are yet to<br />
be fulfilled. Some passages describe<br />
the ‘last days’ when God’s<br />
judgement will fall upon the earth,<br />
dooming those who have rejected<br />
God’s grace: “When the Lord Jesus<br />
is revealed from heaven in blazing<br />
fire with His powerful angels. He<br />
will punish those who do not know<br />
God and do not obey the gospel of<br />
our Lord Jesus. They will be punished<br />
with everlasting destruction<br />
and shut out from the presence of<br />
the Lord and from the glory of His<br />
might” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.<br />
Don’t be unprepared — We<br />
have been warned ahead of time<br />
because God wants us to be prepared.<br />
He is “not wanting anyone<br />
to perish, but everyone to come to<br />
repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).<br />
P A G E 3<br />
T H E<br />
G O O D<br />
N E W S
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