We have all seen the videos of the recent tsunami which originated in the Indian Ocean, coming ashore with destruction and loss of life. Tsunamis can result from earthquakes, underwater volcanoes, and underwater landslides. All of these sources are unseen to human eyes, but the death and ruin are seen by all.

When Adam was created, God prepared the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve to live in. The Garden of Eden consisted of perfect surroundings and provided them all they needed. The rest of the earth God left unfinished. After Adam and Eve sinned, God cast them out of the Garden into the unfinished earth. God said to them, in Genesis 3:17, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.”

The earth outside of Eden was “cursed” because it was not yet perfected. Why would God have left the rest of the earth imperfect and unfinished? God foreknew that Adam would sin, and in His divine plan He left the earth unfinished in order to teach mankind a necessary lesson by the permission of evil. Forcing mankind to labor for their bread by the sweat of face for 6,000 years, along with all the sorrow and pain that sin has brought, will be a lesson for all eternity concerning the “exceeding sinfulness of sin.” This is why God said the earth was cursed “for thy sake.” It was left undone for man’s benefit, even though it is not appreciated by man while he is going through it.

Many of the natural disasters and calamities we see today can be attributed to disturbances that are a result of the imperfect earth. God has permitted these natural disasters by His withdrawal of protecting the earth and not restraining these calamities. Mankind has justly been under the curse of death, passed on by Father Adam, and God does not interfere with this death sentence and all that results from it. This is what it means in Amos 3:6, which says, “Shall there be evil [calamities] in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” And Isaiah 45:7, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil [calamities]: I the LORD do all these things.” The word “evil” in these verses is NOT referring to sin, as God does NOT create sin. By not perfecting the earth and permitting the calamities, God is preparing mankind to appreciate Christ’s perfect future kingdom on earth, in contrast to the troubled world today.

During Christ’s 1000-year kingdom, he is preparing the earth for its more quiet and perfect condition. During the “times of restitution,” spoken of in Acts 3:19-21, Christ will restore mankind to the conditions that existed in the Garden of Eden. Gradually mankind will be perfected and restored to harmony with God. The earth will then also be finished and perfected, like the Garden of Eden, so that mankind can dwell in perfect conditions.

Over the years, there have been many deaths attributed to nature, along with war, murders, sickness, and disease. However, the Scriptures assure us that these victims are not lost, whether Christian or non-Christian.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, King Herod had all the children from two years old and under killed. It was his hope that he might destroy Jesus and that Herod’s dynasty, on behalf of the Roman Empire, might not be overthrown by Jesus’ kingdom. Matthew 2:16-18, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”

Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, whose descendants were slaughtered by Herod. Jeremiah prophetically speaks of Rachel weeping because her children were no more. Although not recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Jeremiah continued in his prophecy concerning Rachel in Jeremiah 31:16, “Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.” The “land of the enemy” is the state of death, and the Scriptures state that there will be a recovery from death. John 5:25, “the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God.” John 5:28-29, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” After returning from the “land of the enemy” (death), mankind will then be required to obey Christ’s kingdom in order to continue to live.

The one whom Herod tried to kill as a babe has made it possible. FOR THIS CAUSE Jesus came into the world. His birth, death, and resurrection are a guarantee that all the families of the earth lost in death, including those in the recent tsunami disaster, will be reunited in due time. Do you know what to expect from Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection? Send for the following VCD For This Cause.

Send to: Hartford Bible Students * P.O. Box 493 * Manchester, CT 06045 Phone: (860) 610-0048 * E-Mail: bibletruthkeys@cs.com

ð FOR THIS CAUSE (VCD)………………………….………………………….................................................$1.00 postpaid

This 55-minute video illustrates the life of Christ, his purpose in coming into the world and what his death will accomplish.
Video Compact Discs (VCDs) are playable on most computers and on some DVD players.

Hartford Bible Students * P.O. Box 493 * Manchester, CT 06045

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Last modified: 09/19/09