Dr. Couch, I just heard of a terrible calamity coming on the world that our U.S. media has hardly (in fact, not at all) mentioned, and that is, Asia and India are about to run out of rice, which is their staple food source. Could this play into the picture of Bible prophecy and the end-times?
ANSWER: I never want to be a date-setter but, yes, this could easily be part of the scenario for what will be coming on the earth, even at the start of the tribulation. The enemies of Bible prophecy and premillennialism would argue: "Oh, there have always been famines, and here you go again, saying that the tribulation is just around the corner!" My answer: While there have always been famines, it has only been sixty years since the founding of the Jewish nation, with those who have been brought back from around the world to the Promised Land! And that is a sign that we are getting close to tribulation events!
Let’s look at some recent statistics about the shortage of rice.
What does the Bible say about the coming worldwide tribulation and famine? Christ speaks about the tribulation, and the wrath of God most often, and He always mentioned famine. He said that during the seven year tribulation "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of the birth pangs" (Matt. 24:7-8; Mark 13:8). Jeremiah makes it clear that the birth pangs take place when all the Jews from around the world have been restored back to the land in the latter times (Jer. 30:1-6). Paul repeats the same thing in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4. By the context of Matthew 24, and by the way Christ mentions famines, it is clear He is not talking about ordinary famines and earthquakes. These are specific events that take place at a specific time.
In the tribulation context in Luke 21 famines are mentioned again but other phenomena are also included. Christ says in verse 11 there will be "great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."
This comes to pass in Revelation beginning in 6:7-17. To Death and Hades, riding on an ashen horse, is given authority (from God) to bring on terror on a fourth of the earth, "to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence, plague" (v. 8). With the destruction of Babylon the Whore in 18:8 more famine will come upon her and her consorts, her allies!
So famine will play a role in the seven year tribulation period. My view is that probably what is now taking place, with the rice issue and potential on-the-horizon famine, will surely build and become a major issue leading all the way into the tribulation!
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
ANSWER: I never want to be a date-setter but, yes, this could easily be part of the scenario for what will be coming on the earth, even at the start of the tribulation. The enemies of Bible prophecy and premillennialism would argue: "Oh, there have always been famines, and here you go again, saying that the tribulation is just around the corner!" My answer: While there have always been famines, it has only been sixty years since the founding of the Jewish nation, with those who have been brought back from around the world to the Promised Land! And that is a sign that we are getting close to tribulation events!
Let’s look at some recent statistics about the shortage of rice.
- Three billion people, mostly in Asia and Africa, depend on rice for their daily subsistence.
- 300 million people in India are below the poverty line and they all have to receive government assistance in order to get their daily portion of rice which they eat three times a day.
- There is no doubt that the demand for rice in Asia, parts of Africa and in Southeast Asia, is outpacing the production and supply of rice. The gap each month is growing wider. The shortage of rice is already here, not simply building up.
- The cost of rice worldwide has gone up by seventy percent in the last year.
- Riots have already started by people who are almost starving for the rice food supply.
- Government rice warehouses are now being guarded by army troops to keep people from thievery.
What does the Bible say about the coming worldwide tribulation and famine? Christ speaks about the tribulation, and the wrath of God most often, and He always mentioned famine. He said that during the seven year tribulation "nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of the birth pangs" (Matt. 24:7-8; Mark 13:8). Jeremiah makes it clear that the birth pangs take place when all the Jews from around the world have been restored back to the land in the latter times (Jer. 30:1-6). Paul repeats the same thing in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4. By the context of Matthew 24, and by the way Christ mentions famines, it is clear He is not talking about ordinary famines and earthquakes. These are specific events that take place at a specific time.
In the tribulation context in Luke 21 famines are mentioned again but other phenomena are also included. Christ says in verse 11 there will be "great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."
This comes to pass in Revelation beginning in 6:7-17. To Death and Hades, riding on an ashen horse, is given authority (from God) to bring on terror on a fourth of the earth, "to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence, plague" (v. 8). With the destruction of Babylon the Whore in 18:8 more famine will come upon her and her consorts, her allies!
So famine will play a role in the seven year tribulation period. My view is that probably what is now taking place, with the rice issue and potential on-the-horizon famine, will surely build and become a major issue leading all the way into the tribulation!
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
