Eschatology Case

Over the past week there have been a couple of major disasters that have taken place across the island of Japan. First there was the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake, followed by a tsunami that would continue on to later hit the west coast of North America 4,970 miles away. The earthquake that manifested itself on March 11th appeared to have moved the main island of Japan by eight feet and shifted the earth on its axis by about four inches. After the earthquake and tsunami were finished, there was a great path of destruction left in Japan. Hundreds of people, if not thousands of people, were found dead.

The tsunami caused the formation of 30-foot walls of water (some which reached six miles long) that swept across rice fields, engulfed entire towns, dragged houses onto highways, and tossed cars and boats like little rag dolls. The earthquake also triggered more than 160 aftershocks in the first twenty-four hours following the catastrophic event. Japan has been struck with much turmoil, leaving Japan and its hundreds of thousands of people without water, power, and shelter. This earthquake that shook the country is the largest one that Japan has ever encountered. To add to the already chaotic situation, Japan is faced with a critically damaged nuclear power plant located in Okuma, Japan.

This situation may be correlated to what is referred to as Eschatology in theological circles. Eschatology, according to The Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words, is "a branch of theology concerned with the study of last things, including the second coming of Christ, the judgment, the resurrection of the dead, hell, and eternal life." It can also be defined as the "branch of theology that attempts to understand the entire scope of redemptive history and God's ultimate destiny for humanity." There are a number of points from the Gospels in which Jesus talks about the end times. Matthew 24:7 says this: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." Another reference from the Bible comes from Luke 21:11: "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." Japan's natural disaster may be a sign of the times, as related to the scriptures listed above. The relevance of the earthquakes and tsunamis could be a major factor contributing to Eschatology. According to United States Geographical Survey there are about 50 earthquakes a day or 20,000 a year. Many go unknown or are at such small magnitudes that they might go unnoticed. Another reference to Eschatology is stated as "the doctrine or study of "last things" coming from the Greek word eschatos, meaning last. There have been a number of worldwide natural disasters including the following: the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, hurricane Katrina in 2005, and recently in 2010,

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