Matthew 24:7

24:7 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
So I bought a Interlinear Bible and was reading Matthew 24 and when I came to verse seven I was stopped in my tracks because it the Interlinear Bible instead of being "earthquakes in various places" it states "there will be earthquakes against places". The wheels in my mind starting turning quickly, as question after question ran through my mind. "does this mean every earthquake is the judgment of God?" "He really chooses where earthquakes hit?". I was stopped in my tracks with the intensity of this all. So I went on a word study. Wouldn't you know it my Bible teachers were right its truly the best way to understand the word.
The word is this: kata kata
Pronunciation: kat-ah'
Origin: a primary particle
Reference: -
PrtSpch: prep
In Greek: kat 85, kata 325, kay 61
In NET: according to 68, against 49, in 42, by 36, according 22, every 13, privately 9, throughout 8, with 8, as 6, on 5, of 4, like 4, from 4, to 4, year after year 3, daily 3, from house to house 3, in accordance with 3, in keeping with 3, just as 3, off 3, along 3, Day after day 3, opposed 3, about 3, According to 2, About 2, During 2, Every 2, because of 2, further 2, due 2, after 1, where 1, alone 1, accords with 1, accordingly 1, with reference to 1, wherever 1, one at a time 1, along the coast 1, aside 1, at 1, as expressed in 1, as displayed in 1, when 1, as a result of 1, one house after another 1, To 1, Before 1, By 1, At 1, Against 1, present 1, prescribed by 1, over 1, outward 1, On 1, This accords with 1, In regard to 1, In 1, Each 1, orderly manner 1, attention 1, based on 1, town after town 1, in accepting 1, in accordance 1, through 1, from such 1, on the basis 1, such 1, near 1, in detail 1, in the various 1, in various 1, in regard to 1, in line with 1, in every 1, meets in 1, for 1, following 1, circumstances 1, correspond to 1, case 1, what 1, one after another 1, beyond 1, corresponding to 1, on the basis of 1, face to face 1, facing 1, various 1, each 1, day after day 1, since 1, just as we are 1
In AV: according to 107, after 61, against 58, in 36, by 27, daily + 2250 15, as 11, misc 165
Count: 480
Definition: 1) down from, through out
2) according to, toward, along
a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in
varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or
accusative) with which it is joined):-about, according as (to),
after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even,
like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before,
beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered,
(dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for,
from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ...
by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X
mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over
against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout,
-oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost,
where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these
applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or
intensity.
After reading that I asked myself "why did the NKJV use "diverse", the NIV use "various", and the Interlinear use "against""? I found myself at a stand still. Not knowing where to turn or what to think. I starting thinking of the ultimate question, "God who are you?"
As I went back and forth with the thought that God causes every earthquake and thinking of the recent events of Haiti, not wanting to just say "this was judgment, God killed all those people". Which I know God judges and the word is very clear on that, but there was no voice before hand saying, "Flee because judgement is coming!" in context to judgment in the bible there is always a clear voice that comes before hand saying judgment is coming, and I had heard nothing of that coming before hand? But then again the bible says it will happen, so does their need to be a voice? Like I said the wheels were turning. Then I ran across Romans 6:23 and it says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. The reason destruction and death hits the earth is because humanity choses sin and death over God. What happened to the nation of Haiti is the result of sin? So both us and God are the reasons earthquakes destroy nations like Haiti? I know Haiti had it coming being in covenant with Satan and all, but sin is sin right?
If God planned every earthquake I would be okay with it. I don't have offense against Him for doing so. We are a wicked people and deserve nothing less than to be judged. But why does the bibles differ on the way they use the words? Does God plan it or is it just part of the earth groaning for the return of Jesus? The closer we get the more it groans, so the more earthquakes happen. But does God direct it? Yes God directes it. But so did they, so do we, and so does the earth. The word "kata" means "against" and "diverse" so could the translation be this, "there will be earthquakes against diverse places?" Meaning this its against them from God, as judgment against sin, and the earth groaning for the return of Jesus. We cause, so does the earth, and does God. Where it hits and how big is not up to me and God allows and directs all things according to Job.
Does there have to be a prophetic voice saying this coming? No there doesn't, Jesus says these will come. So we as believers have to begin to sound the alarm according to what Jesus says is coming to the earth. If I truly believe we are living in the day of the Lord's return then I have no other choice but to become a voice of crying in the wilderness "prepare the way of the Lord". How do I do that? Live my life eating the scrolls and soaking in prayer and fasting.
Amen.
By. Jonathan.