George Main Seventh-Day Adventist Church

What does the Bible say about hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters? Does the Bible give an answer to why the world is in such a mess if God is really in control? How could a God of love let masses of people die from killer hurricanes, catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks and disease? Why such bizarre carnage and chaos? Is the world coming to an end? Is God pouring out his wrath upon sinners? Why is it so often the bloated bodies of the poor, the elderly, and the children that are strewn among the rubble? These are the questions most people are begging to be answered.

Is God Responsible for Natural Disasters?

Although God is often viewed as the One causing these terrible catastrophes, He is not responsible for them. God does not cause natural disasters and calamities. On the contrary, He is the Giver of life. The Bible says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, NIV).

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When God came to earth in the form of a man, He did nothing to hurt people, only to help them. Jesus said, "For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them" (Luke 9:56).

It was God's design that His sons and daughters should forever smell the fragrance of exotic flowers, not rotting corpses. They should always enjoy the delicacies of tropical fruit and tasty dishes, not face hunger and starvation. He is the one who provides the fresh air from a mountaintop and cool sparkling water, not ugly pollution.

Why Does Nature Seem to Be More and More Destructive?

When Adam and Eve sinned, it brought a natural consequence to the earth. "Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’, “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it, all the days of your life” (Gen. 3:17). The descendants of Adam became so violent and corrupt that God allowed the world to be destroyed by a global flood (Genesis 6:5, 11). The fountains of the deep were broken up (Genesis 7:11). There was great volcanic activity. The layers of the earth's crust were formed and nature was turned out of its God-given course. The stage was set for earthquakes, and killer storms. The consequences of sin have progressed from that day until now. The natural world is becoming increasingly chaotic. The results of our first parents’ disobedience are becoming more and more evident as this world is wearing out. But God is still in the business of rescuing, helping, and healing. He holds out salvation and everlasting life to all who will receive Him.

If God Does Not Bring Natural Disasters, Who Does?

Many people do not believe in a real devil, but the Bible is very clear on this point. Satan exists, and he is the destroyer. Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18, NKJV). Satan was once a holy angel at the right hand of God in heaven (Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28). He rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. “So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). Jesus said, the devil “was a murderer from the beginning”, and “the father of lies" (John 8:44, NIV). The Bible says that the devil attempts to deceive the whole world, and one way he tries to do this is by spreading the idea that there is no real devil. According to recent surveys, fewer and fewer people in the United States believe the devil really exists. But the existence of a real devil is the only way to explain the existence of evil in a world that was created “very good” (Genesis 1:31). “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:12, NKJV). Satan’s aim and goal is to destroy as many of God’s created children as he can.

The Old Testament story of Job is a classic example of how God sometimes allows Satan to bring calamities. Job lost his cattle, his crops, and his family to vicious attacks, a killer hurricane, and a firestorm. Job’s friends said these disasters came from God, but a careful reading of the book of Job reveals that it was Satan who brought these evils on Job (Job 1:1-12).

Why Did God Create the Devil?

Actually, God did not create the devil. God created a beautiful, perfect angel named Lucifer (see Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28). Lucifer, in turn, made a devil out of himself. Lucifer’s pride caused him to rebel against God and to challenge Him for supremacy in heaven. He was thrown out of heaven and came to this earth where he tempted a perfect man and woman to sin. When they did so, they opened a floodgate of Satan’s evil upon the world.

Why Does God Not Kill the Devil?

Some have wondered, “Why doesn’t God stop the devil? If it is not God’s will for people to die, why does He allow it to happen? Have things gone beyond God’s control?”

God could have destroyed Satan when he rebelled in heaven. God could have also destroyed Adam and Eve when they sinned—and started over. However, if He had done this, He would have been ruling from the standpoint of force, rather than love. The angels in heaven and human beings on earth would serve Him from fear, not love. In order for love to flourish, it must operate on the principle of freedom of choice. Without freedom to choose, there would be no such thing as real love. We would simply be robots programed to always obey God. But He gave us the incredible power of choice. That means that we, and others, have the freedom to choose to do evil, even evil against innocent victims. God doesn’t want us to choose evil. He gives us every opportunity to choose His goodness over Satan’s wickedness. But He knows that we can still choose evil, because He gave us that ability. Despite this risk, God chose to preserve our freedom of choice and to rule by love. He chose to allow Satan and sin to run their course. He allows us and the universe to see where sin will lead. He lets us see the reasons for making the choice to serve Him in love. There will come a time when all people on earth will be able to make a final choice, a choice to follow Satan or to follow God, a choice to follow the master of hate or to follow the Master of love. Then, each person will see how truly evil Satan is and how exceedingly good is God. Everyone will see clearly what they are losing by having chosen Satan and what they are gaining by having chosen God.

Does God send calamities to kill sinners?

Some mistakenly think that God always sends calamities to punish sinners. This is not true. Jesus commented on acts of violence and natural calamities that happened in His day. The Bible says, "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:1-5).

These things happened because, in a world of sin, there are calamities and atrocities that take place that would not happen in a perfect world. It does not mean that everyone who dies in such calamities is a sinner nor does it mean that God causes the calamity. Sadly, it is often the innocent that suffer the consequences of living in this world of sin. But God does not send these calamities. Satan is the one who sends them.

But Didn't God Destroy Wicked Cities Like Sodom and Gomorrah?

Yes. In past times, God has brought judgment upon the wicked as He did in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible says, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7, NKJV). The destruction of these wicked cities was an example of the judgments that will come upon the whole world at the end of time as a result of sin. This is a warning for us today, but it does not necessarily mean that when an earthquake or a tornado or a tsunami strikes that God is pouring out His wrath in judgment upon cities like New York, New Orleans, or Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We live in a sinful world and disasters can strike at any time.

Some have suggested that natural disasters are perhaps the beginning of God’s final judgments upon the wicked. One should not rule out the possibility that sinners are receiving the consequences of their rebellion against God, but we cannot correlate particular disasters with divine retribution against specific sinners or sins. As humans we simply don’t have enough information to make that judgment. Only God can make that judgment. These horrible events may well be simply the result of living in a world that has fallen so far from God’s ideal. Even if these disasters might be considered early warnings of God’s final judgment, none should conclude that all those who die in them are eternally lost. Jesus said that in the final judgment it would be more tolerable for some of those destroyed in Sodom, than for those who reject His invitation to salvation in cities that were not destroyed (see Luke 10:12-15).

Why Is it so Often the Poor, the Elderly, and Children Who Suffer the Most?

Is it fair for the innocent to suffer? No, it’s not fair. The point is that sin is not fair. God is fair, but sin is not fair. That is the nature of sin. When Adam sinned, he gave himself and the human race into the hands of a destroyer. God allows Satan to become active in working through nature to bring about destruction. And just like any bully, Satan targets the weak and the poor, the young and defenseless. God does not want this to happen. He did not want Adam and Eve to sin. But he allowed it, because that was the only way human beings could have the gift of freedom of choice.

For example, a son or daughter may rebel against good parents and go out into the world and live a life of sin. They may have children. They may even choose to abuse those children. This is not fair, yet it happens when people make wrong choices. A loving parent or grandparent would want to rescue the abused children. And God longs to do the same. This is why Jesus came to this earth. He came to live a perfect life and die a death that would bring the opportunity of salvation to all people. Although evil things may happen on this earth, Jesus has the ultimate rescue plan that He has put into action to save eternally everyone who accepts the reality of His love and pardon. Suffering is not forever. The perfect peace and joy of living with Christ forever is just around the corner.

What is the Wrath of God That Will Be Poured Out in the Last Days?

The Bible explains God’s wrath as allowing human beings to choose to separate themselves from God if they so desire. When the Bible speaks about God’s wrath, it does not mean that God is vindictive or retaliatory. God is love, and He wants everyone to be saved. But He allows men and women to go their own way if they insist on doing so. God says, “ My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13, NIV). Many people have rejected the joy of living with Jesus. They have chosen other lifeless things to fill their lives. Instead of living water, they have chosen to make their own wells that don’t even hold water or happiness. It is their choice and they have used their freedom of choice to reject the eternal life that God offers and, instead, try to find life and fulfillment in other worthless sources.

Sadly, God’s wrath is the inevitable consequence that comes to those who choose to separate themselves from Him. God does not want to give up any of His children to destruction. He says with so much yearning, “How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? … My heart churns within Me; my sympathy is stirred” (Hosea 11:8, NKJV). The Lord longs with all His heart to see everyone eternally saved. “‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11, NKJV). God continually calls out to those who reject him to return, and it hurts His heart so much when they don’t.

Is God on Vacation? Why Does it Seem Like He Stands by and Lets all This Happen?

Where is God when all this happens? Do not good people pray for safety? And yet God says, " The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalms 34:18). God did not remain aloof from human suffering. He suffers with the innocent. He sent His innocent Son to endure unfair treatment just so He could ensure our eternal salvation. Jesus was the classic example of the suffering of the innocent. In His death on the cross, He is the only truly innocent person who has ever suffered unfair treatment. He accepted the consequence of our rebellion against Himself. He did not shy away from our suffering. He came down to this world and suffered in our suffering. Then, He experienced the most horrible pain imaginable upon the cross. He endured the pain of the hostility of a sinful human race. He took upon Himself the consequence of our sins. And in doing so, He feared He might be eternally separated from His Father in heaven. And yet, He did it anyway. He still offered Himself, no matter the cost, so that we might have the chance of forgiveness and reconciliation and eternal rescue from this life of pain and suffering.

The Preserving Love of God

But when disasters happen, the real point is that they could happen to any of us at any time. It is only because God is love that one heartbeat follows another. He gives life and love to all. Every day, billions of people wake up to fresh air, warm sunshine, delicious food, and comfortable homes—because God is love, and He showers His blessings on the earth. We have no individual claim on life, however, as though we had created ourselves. We must acknowledge that we live in a world that is subject to death from a variety of sources. Calamities serve to remind us of the fact that apart from the salvation that Jesus offers, there is no hope for the human race. We can expect more and more destruction as we come closer to the time of His return to earth. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:7-8, NKJV). But this also means that the time of our final rescue is near! “…The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11, NIV).

No More Pain

The calamities and catastrophes that engulf our world serve as reminders that this world of sin, pain, hate, fear, and tragedy will not last forever. Eventually, all evil will end. Jesus has promised that He will return to earth to save us from our world that is falling to pieces. God has promised to make everything new again. Sin will never rise up again (see Nahum 1:9). God will live with His people, and there will be an end to death, crying, and pain. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4, NIV). Wouldn’t you like to choose to live in a place with no more pain, death or sadness? Wouldn’t you like God to wipe away all your tears and allow you to live in complete happiness for eternity? Choose to believe today that God has all this planned for you and that He has prepared the way with the sacrifice of His son, just so you could choose Him today.

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• Comfort
• Suffering
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