Luke 21:25-26

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Commentary

Jesus says, in the last days, there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. The signs are described as the powers of heaven being shaken. These signs will cause the nations of the world to be distressed and perplexed.

This will cause incredible fear in men.

Note that Jesus only gives specifics of sea and waves roaring.

There has been speculation that these signs could include the moon shifting its orbit, stars suddenly going dark, multiple supernovas, stars moving across the sky, the sun going dark or growing in size. Some have wondered if UFOs will become commonplace.

What will happen is not given here, but know it will certainly be a demonstration of the power of God.

Matt 24:3-8

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Commentary

Jesus was asked when shall the last days arrive, but Jesus responded by telling the disciples what signs will appear, so they would know the time when it arrives.

Notice that there would be famines, pestilences (plagues and pandemics), and earthquakes all over the world.

Over the past fifty years, the rate and intensity of earthquakes has increased, and there are more frequent earthquakes in areas generally thought of as “stable.”

Revelation 6:5-8

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Commentary

In the Tribulation, food will be scarce, and the average person will spend nearly all of their income on just enough food to survive.

Famine will kill millions. What can cause there to be massive food shortages?

Plagues killing domesticated animals used for food, multiple volcanic eruptions causing shortened growing seasons, as ash blocks the sun, wars destroying the means to transport materials and the food itself.

The answer is not given how it will occur, but it will certainly happen.

Luke 21:11

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Commentary

This single verse sums up the signs of the last days. Note that fearful sights are listed separate from great signs from heaven.

Isaiah 24:19-20

The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

Commentary

The prophecy here describes the earth being broken down, dissolved, and moved exceedingly.

How it is moved follows immediately, saying that is will “reel to and fro like a drunkard.”

Is this describing earthquakes felt around the world? Could the reeling to and fro be an unstable orbit that upsets the magnetic poles of the earth?

Revelation 6:12-14

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Commentary

The Bible gives specific signs that will not be mistaken for some local event.

A great earthquake, a black sun, and a blood red moon. These will be seen by the entire world. Stars falling from heaven, and the heaven (upper atmosphere) departing will show the absolute power of God.

This great earthquake will be so strong that the geography of the earth will be altered considerably.

Revelation 16:18-20

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Commentary

At the end of the Tribulation there will be an earthquake so strong that cities will crumble, every island will disappear, and all the mountains will be flattened. This will return the earth to the topography that existed before the flood of Noah.