The Bible speaks of famine as one of the signs of the end times or the “Last Days.” These references to famine are often found in prophetic passages that describe the period leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. The scriptures indicate that famines will be among various trials and tribulations that will occur during this time, serving as warnings and signs of the approaching end of the age. The mention of famine in this context is symbolic of the broader turmoil and suffering that the world will experience during the end times.
What Does the Bible Say About Famine in the Last Days?
The topic of famine in the Last Days is primarily found in the prophetic books of the Bible. These prophecies describe famine as part of a series of events that will signify the approach of the end times.
In the Gospels, Jesus speaks of famines as part of the “beginning of birth pains” before the end. In the Olivet Discourse, He mentions famines alongside earthquakes and wars as signs of the times. These natural disasters are depicted not just as random occurrences but as significant signals in God’s plan.
The Book of Revelation, a key text for understanding Christian eschatology, also contains references to famine. It describes a series of seals, each unleashing different events on the earth. One of these seals reveals a rider on a black horse, symbolizing famine. This imagery portrays famine as a consequential event in the unfolding of the end times.
The prophet Amos also spoke of famine, not just a famine of food, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. This can be interpreted as a spiritual famine, where the scarcity is not just in physical sustenance but in spiritual truth and guidance.
These prophecies about famine should be understood within the broader context of the Bible’s teachings on the Last Days. They are part of a complex tapestry of events that will culminate in the return of Christ. The mention of famine serves as a warning and a call for repentance and faithfulness in troubled times.
God’s view on these famines is that they are part of His sovereign plan. While they signify judgment, they also serve as calls to repentance. In the Bible, famines often lead people to seek God and return to Him.
In today’s world, where natural disasters and global issues are increasingly prevalent, these biblical teachings remind us of the transient nature of our world and the importance of spiritual preparedness and reliance on God.
Bible Verses About Famine in the Last Days
- Matthew 24:7 – “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Jesus lists famines among the signs of the end times.
- Revelation 6:5-6 – “When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand… A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages.” This passage symbolizes famine in the context of the end times.
- Luke 21:11 – “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Similar to Matthew, Luke also records Jesus’ prophecy of famines as part of end-time tribulations.
- Amos 8:11 – “The days are coming, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos speaks of a spiritual famine, a scarcity of God’s word.
- Mark 13:8 – “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” Mark’s account also includes famines in Jesus’ prophecy of the end times.
- 2 Chronicles 20:9 – “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.” This verse shows a response of faith and reliance on God during famine.
- Ezekiel 5:16 – “When I shoot at you with my deadly and destructive arrows of famine, I will shoot to destroy you. I will bring more and more famine upon you and cut off your supply of food.” Ezekiel’s prophecy speaks of famine as part of God’s judgment.
- Psalm 33:19 – “To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” This Psalm expresses trust in God’s ability to sustain and protect during times of famine.
- Revelation 18:8 – “Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Famine is again mentioned in Revelation as part of God’s judgment on Babylon.
- Joel 1:16 – “Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes—joy and gladness from the house of our God?” The prophet Joel refers to famine as a cause of lament and a call to repentance.
- Genesis 41:56-57 – “When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.” This historical account from Genesis, while not a prophecy, demonstrates how God used a famine to fulfill His plan and save many lives, including the family of Israel.
- Haggai 1:11 – “I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” In Haggai, famine and drought are used by God as a wake-up call for the people to return to Him.
- 2 Kings 8:1 – “The Lord had revealed to Elisha that a famine was coming over the land that would last seven years.” This verse recounts a prophetic revelation of a coming famine, underscoring the role of prophets in warning and guiding the people during such times.
- Jeremiah 14:12 – “Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.” Jeremiah speaks of famine as part of God’s judgment on unfaithful Israel.
- Ezekiel 14:13 – “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals…” Here, Ezekiel conveys the message that famine can be a direct consequence of sin and unfaithfulness.
These verses collectively provide a comprehensive view of how the Bible addresses the topic of famine, particularly in the context of the Last Days and God’s judgments. They reveal a pattern where famine often serves as a sign of the times, a consequence of sin, or a catalyst for spiritual awakening and repentance. While these passages paint a sobering picture of the trials that come with famines, they also emphasize the importance of faith, trust in God’s provision, and the need for repentance and return to God in times of hardship.