Islands and Bible Prophecy

By COGwriter

There are thousands of islands around the world, and millions of people live on them. Do islands have much mention in Bible prophecy?

This thought occurred to me when my wife and I were on the island of Moorea.

Moorea is part of French Polynesia and is near the island of Tahiti. Perhaps another reason that I was thinking about this is that my wife and I have been to many islands (some of the more notable ones perhaps being Australia, Bali, Barbados, Bora Bora, Britain, Capri, Catalina, Crete, Eleuthera, Hawaii, Ireland, Isla de Sal (Cape Verde), Jamaica, Japan, Kauai, Key Largo, Lido, Long Island, Mackinaw, Maui, Moorea, Mykonos, Nassau, Naxos, New Zealand (North), Oahu, Patmos, Penang, Puerto Rico, Rhodes, Santorini, Sicily, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Taveuni, Tobago, Tokoriki, Trinidad, Viti Levu) and that many of those that we visited do not have any Church of God (COG) members (though several do). There are are many islands other that we may some day get to.

The Philippines may have the most Church of God members of any island nation. Although my books have gotten to the Philippines, plus there are many COGwriter readers there, I have not yet been there--though we have sent people there to teach and assist. As far as the Philippines, we now have a document titled Paglalahad ng Mga Paniniwala ng Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos. This is the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God in Tagalog, the primary language of the Philippines. Thousands of COGwriter articles are viewed each month by people in the Philippines and we of the Continuing Church of God have a small group there and our Bible News Prophecy magazine has also been translated into Tagalog. And we have sent non-Filipinos to assist there twice.

This article will refer to some of the islands specifically mentioned in the Bible as well as to what Bible prophecy says will happen to islands in general (for those specifically associated with Australia, New Zealand, and the British Isles, see nglo - America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

If you live on an island, this article contains information you really need to be aware of.

Here is a link to a related video: Islands and Biblical Prophecies.

Are Islands Important?

Some people, whether part of great nations or small islands, consider that their geographic region is of great importance. But God does not always see things the way humans do. Notice what is taught in Isaiah 40:15:

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing (NKJV unless otherwise noted).

But does this mean that God does not care for those in the islands?

Au contraire!

Notice that the New Testament does mention that the gospel was proclaimed on several islands, even at least one island with a false prophet:

6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:6-12).

1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary. (Acts 28:1-10).

Other islands specifically mentioned in the New Testament include Rhodes (Acts 21:1), Crete (Acts 27:7,12,13,21; Titus 1:7), Syracuse on Sicily (Acts 28:12), Patmos (Revelation 1:9), and an island called Clauda, which was used for a supply stop (Acts 27:16).

Perhaps I should mention that even if we do not consider that Australia is an island (but instead consider it to be a continent), that there are hundreds of millions people who live on islands (with those islands which are part of Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, USA, Madagascar, Britain, and Papua New Guinea among the most highly populated).

The Continuing Church of God has members in several island nations.

Perhaps it should be mentioned here that many island nations/territories may end up politically and otherwise supporting the Europeans or Asians in the end. For ideas of who the Caribbean nations may support, please see the article Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean in Prophecy.

Islands in Prophecy

The last book of the Bible written, Revelation, was a prophetic book written on an island. Notice Revelation 1:9:

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And in this book, as well as other biblical writings, there is a major amount of distress prophesied for those who live on islands.

Before getting to them, notice what some scientists are predicting:

February 8, 2016

A large group of climate scientists has made a bracing statement in the journal Nature Climate Change, arguing that we are mistaken if we think global warming is only a matter of the next 100 years or so — in fact, they say, we are locking in changes that will play out over as many as 10,000 years. ...

“It’s a statement of worry,” said Raymond Pierrehumbert, a geoscientist at Oxford University and one of the study’s authors. “And actually, most of us who have worked both on paleoclimate and the future have been terrified by the idea of doubling or quadrupling CO2 right from the get-go.”

“In hundreds of years from now, people will look back and say, ‘yeah, the sea level is rising, it will continue to rise, we live with a constant rise of sea level because of these people 200 years ago that used coal, and oil, and gas,’” said Anders Levermann, a sea level rise expert at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and one of the paper’s authors. “If you just look at this, it’s stunning that we can make such a long-lasting impact that has the same magnitude as the ice ages.”

The key reason for this is that carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a very long time before being slowly removed again by natural processes. “A considerable fraction of the carbon emitted to date and in the next 100 years will remain in the atmosphere for tens to hundreds of thousands of years,” the study noted. Meanwhile, the planet’s sea levels adjust gradually to its rising temperature over thousands of years.

So what will the world look like in 10,000 years, thanks to us? That really depends on what we do in the next few hundred years with the fossil fuels to which we have relatively easy access. ... In 10,000 years, if we totally let it rip, the planet could ultimately be an astonishing 7 degrees Celsius warmer on average and feature seas 52 meters (170 feet) higher than they are now. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/02/08/what-the-earth-will-be-like-in-10000-years-according-to-scientists/

But these scientists are overlooking the Bible. As far as 10,000 years from now is concerned, the sea, as we now know it, will no longer exist per Revelation 21:1.

As far as what is expected this century, notice the following two prophecies:

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place (Revelation 6:12-14).

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great (Revelation 16:17-21).

However, as pointed out above, it will not only be the islands that are affected by these events, as even inland areas apparently will have flooding too (the Netherlands, a very low lying country, comes to mind as does the Florida Everglades).

Notice what may be related to the same event as foretold in the writings of Jeremiah and Haggai:

41 Oh, how the praise of the whole earth is seized! How Babylon has become desolate among the nations! 42 The sea has come up over Babylon; She is covered with the multitude of its waves. 43 Her cities are a desolation, A dry land and a wilderness, A land where no one dwells, Through which no son of man passes. 44 I will punish Bel in Babylon, And I will bring out of his mouth what he has swallowed; And the nations shall not stream to him anymore. Yes, the wall of Babylon shall fall. 45 "My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver himself from the fierce anger of the LORD (Jeremiah 51:41-45).

6 "For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land (Haggai 2:6).

Notice the following two news items:

Japan's Tsunami Broke Off Chunks of Antarctica "The remnants of the giant wave that hit Japan crashed into and fragmented an Antarctic ice shelf after the original tsunami, scientists say." TIME - Aug 10, 2011 http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/08/10/scientists-japans-tsunami-broke-off-chunks-of-antarctica/

"Say that all the ice on Antarctica melted, not just the western-Antarctic ice cap. In that case, sea level would rise at least 200 feet. Every coastal city in the world would be destroyed. Just the top half of the Washington Monument would extend above the Atlantic Ocean. The new East Coast would cut across the lawn of the Vice President’s house on Massachusetts Avenue." http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/5575.html

Perhaps it should be pointed out that in Revelation 16, it also states the following:

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory (Revelation 16:8-9).

Why is great heat of importance to those living on islands?

Well, among other reasons, there is about enough water still in glaciers and the polar ice caps to raise the level of the oceans about 200-300 feet if they completely melted. And any plague that strikes the earth with scorching heat is going to accelerate the melting of these frozen bodies of water--especially if large masses of ice break-off from earthquakes or other causes.

Many islands are less than two or three hundred feet high at their highest point, and nearly all islands have major portions that are less than 200 to 300 feet above sea level. Hence, many islands will probably become completely covered when the ice melts and a great earthquake levels mountains. This also will devastate coastal land masses. Notice:

"A substantial fraction of U.S. cities are on seacoasts and thus close to sea level — Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, to name a few. If all snow and ice were to melt, sea level would rise by 270 feet, enough to inundate nearly all of these cities and vast other areas of the nation." http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~blc/book/chapter3.html

The US State of Florida would be pretty much gone. And the threat to islands is real.

Even now, the 11,000 people of the small island nation of Tuvalu have decided that they will need to abandon their island due to rising ocean levels due to current glacial melting. Furthermore, since most of the 1,196 islands of the Maldives are less than 7 feet above sea-level, its 311,000 residents, are expected to have to leave those islands in this century. And this assumes NO SCORCHING HEAT like the Bible prophesies--just a relatively small increase in temperature such as has been occurring.

Additionally, the tsunami of December 26, 2004, triggered by an earthquake (9.1 to 9.3 on the Richter scale), killed about 200,000 people in islands and coastal regions (Wikipedia).

Thus the idea that island peoples are even NOW vulnerable to earthquakes and ice melting IS NOT some far-fetched view.

Perhaps I should point out that it is not only Protestant translations of the Bible (such as the NKJV) that make this clear. The Rheims New Testament of 1582, which is the Roman Catholic standard for an English translation, renders Revelation 16:20 as:

20 And every island fled, and mountains were not found (The Apocalypse of Saint John 16:20, RNT).

Therefore, it should be clear that basically anyone possessing a New Testament should be able to know what is prophesied to affect those who live on islands.

Notice what Jesus said:

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven ... 25 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:11, 25-27).

Essentially, the Bible shows that the earth will be scorched with heat, there will the greatest earthquake of all time that will level mountains, and that heavenly bodies will fall to the earth as well as apparently into the sea. And this will be followed by the sea and the waves roaring. And if most of the frozen waters have melted by then, the height of these roaring waves apparently will be enough to destroy most who live on islands.

According to the Bible, these prophesies are certain to come to pass:

6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." (Revelation 22:6).

Many Islands, thus, will go away.

The following may also be of interest:

Priest Balthassar Mas (17th century): "I saw a land swallowed up by the sea and covered with water. But afterwards, I saw that the sea receded little by little and the land could be seen again. The tops of the towers in the city rose again above the water and appeared more beautiful than before, and I was told that this land was England." (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.32)

While we cannot rely on Roman Catholic private prophecy, the above is of interest as England is part of a large island. The above may have several interpretations. Figuratively, it may mean that Protestant England is to be destroyed and will become Greco-Roman Catholic. Or it may simply mean some type of tsunami will affect England. Or nothing like that will happen. We will see.

When Will The Great Earthquake Occur?

Now when will the great earthquake the Bible tells of happen?

While there will be various earthquakes, storms, etc. that will affect islands until the return of Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that the greatest earthquake happens after a certain event:

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon ... 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth (Revelation 16:12-16,18).

Therefore, shortly after the nations are gathered together in "the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon," the great earthquake will occur.

But it is too dangerous to wait until that late to flee the islands.

If you are a Protestant, Orthodox Catholic, or a Roman Catholic have you been told about this? If you live on an island do you know this?

Perhaps I should mention that the COG has been preaching this from inception, and especially in past several decades.

Those interested in protection, according to the Bible, need to:

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you! 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger. (Zephaniah 2:1-3).

(This prophecy refers to protection Jesus prophesied to the end time Philadelphian Christians of Revelation 3:7-13.

(More information can be found in the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra. There is also a sermonette-length video available titled: Zephaniah's 'Gather Together' Prophecy.)

The Kingdom of God

It should be pointed out that all is not gloom for those who live in the islands. Notice these passages from the Old Testament:

10 "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock' (Jeremiah 31:10).

9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. 10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." 11 It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea (Isaiah 11:9-11).

Thus, there is a second time coming when God will recover the remnant of His people who are left from the islands of the sea (as well as other places).

Also notice what Psalm 97:1 teaches:

The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!

With all the gloom forecasted for islands when will the above occur?

This will occur AFTER the earthquakes and related events. This will occur in the kingdom of God:

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. 11 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents ... (Psalm 72:8-10).

Understand that the above has not happened yet. It is a prophecy.

And it is a prophecy that essentially shows two events. The first that not everyone of the islands will be killed by the great earthquake and the roaring of the waves and the sea. And the second is that God does have a plan which will result in salvation being offered to those who dwell on islands, even if they have not been called in this age (more information can be found in the free online books:
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation and Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism).

Salvation Will be Offered to All

Some have wondered if people on islands who never even heard the name of Jesus Christ throughout history are eternally lost or if they will have an opportunity for salvation. The Bible teaches that ALL in this age or the 'age to come' will have a real opportunity for salvation.

Those on islands who either never truly heard and understood the true gospel will have an opportunity.

For details, check out the free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation. Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God's plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?

Related sermon videos include: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’. A version of the main article was also translated in the Spanish language: Oferta universal de salvación: Hay cientos de versículos en la Biblia que apoyan la verdadera doctrina de la Apocatastasis..

Conclusion

Island peoples are mentioned in the Bible. The gospel was preached to those who dwelled on islands.

Bible prophecy shows that the earth will be scorched with heat, there will the greatest earthquake of all time that will level mountains, and that heavenly bodies will fall to the earth as well as apparently into the sea. Earthquakes will be followed by the sea and the waves roaring. The Bible specifically teaches that the islands will be heavily affected. And if most of the frozen waters have melted by then, the height of these roaring waves apparently will be enough to destroy many, but probably not all, who live on islands.

Some will likely survive.

God does have a plan that specifically includes those who dwell in islands. But those now living on any island would be better off it they completely respond to God now as opposed to later (also see the article There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra).

If you live on an island, do you believe the Bible? If so, what did you intend to do about this?

Here is a link to a related video: Islands and Biblical Prophecies.

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