OCT 3

Matthew 24:3-14
Memorise Revelation 8:1-13
“there shall be… pestilences, and earthquakes”

Matthew 24-25 records for us the Olivet Discourse, in which Jesus responded to His disciples’ questions regarding “what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world” (Matthew 24:3). In the next few days, we shall be studying more about these signs, which can be divided into four main areas of human life.

First is the ecological sign. Ecology means “the study of the interaction of people with their environment”. Under this heading pestilences and earthquakes (v 7) are mentioned. Synonymous to pestilences are plagues, epidemics, pandemics etc. Immediately we think about AIDS or even the SARS outbreak in 2003 that hit our tiny island and claimed so many lives. H5N1, H1N1 and H7N9 are not just random strings of letters and numbers, but deadly strains of flu that so terrorized the world. The year 2019 also marked the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic which has claimed millions of lives worldwide.

As to earthquakes, we are no stranger to its devastating effects in recent years. Flip open the newspaper on any given day, and you will likely read of an earthquake or some other natural disaster, somewhere in the world. Earthquakes became bigger and more frequent by 20 times in the 20th Century, compared to the 19th. Now we are in the 21st Century, and it can only get worse. The Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 (9.0 on the Richter scale) that claimed close to 300,000 lives is a case in point.

Dear teen, when you hear about these signs being fulfilled, what is your response? Do you scoff and deny, or do you realize that these are actual fulfillments of God’s prophecies? Will you remain willfully ignorant, or will you take earnest heed

Thought: Where are your treasures, on earth or in heaven?
Prayer: Lord, I want to have eternity’s values and treasures in view.