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Famines are a recurring theme in biblical prophecy, often cited by modern-day doomsday prophets who warn of great famines yet to come. They point to Scriptures such as Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, and Luke 21:11, claiming these predict famines for our time. But are these prophecies about famines in the 21st century, or were they intended for the first-century disciples?

The key to understanding these prophecies lies in recognising their historical context, particularly about famines experienced during the time of Jesus and in the aftermath of the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.

Let’s begin by looking at the Scriptures themselves:

Matthew 24:7 (AMP)
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place.”

Mark 13:8 (ESV)
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

Luke 21:11 (ESV)
“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”

These passages describe events that Jesus spoke of as signs of the end, yet we must ask whether these warnings were for events that would unfold in the first century, or if they refer to future occurrences.

Most scholars agree that these signs were fulfilled in the years leading up to the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., not in our time. Luke’s additional mention of “pestilences” points to a broader picture of suffering during that period.

The Famine Prophesied by Agabus #

One of the more specific famines mentioned in the New Testament is the one prophesied by Agabus, a prophet from Jerusalem. Acts 11:27-28 records this prophecy:

Acts 11:27-28 (AMP)
“And during these days, prophets (inspired teachers and interpreters of the divine will and purpose) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a great and severe famine would come upon the whole world. And this did occur during the reign of Claudius.”

This famine occurred during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54), which aligns with the historical records of famines in the Roman Empire. Agabus’ prophecy highlights a severe famine that affected the entire Mediterranean region, impacting Judea especially hard. Famines were not new, nor were they unexpected. They were part of the historical record in the first century.

Historical Evidence of Famines #

Several ancient historians, including Josephus, Suetonius, and Tacitus, document the famines that occurred during the reign of Claudius. These famines were particularly devastating in Palestine, with food shortages reaching extreme levels.

Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, provides detailed accounts of the famine in Judea:

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 20.2.5

Josephus writes about a time when Queen Helena of Adiabene came to Jerusalem during the famine and provided significant aid to the city, distributing food that had been brought from Egypt and Cyprus. He also describes how the famine led to widespread suffering, with people struggling to find food, and some resorting to desperate measures to survive.

“Now her coming was of very great advantage to the people of Jerusalem; for whereas a famine did oppress them at that time, and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure food…” (Josephus, Antiquities 20.2.5)

This famine was particularly devastating in Jerusalem and Judea. As Josephus continues, we see the extremes of hunger and deprivation that occurred during this time:

“The famine was too hard for all other passions, and it is destructive to nothing so much as to modesty; for what was otherwise worthy of reverence was in this case despised; insomuch that children pulled the very morsels that their fathers were eating out of their very mouths.” (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 5.10.3)

Tacitus, another Roman historian, also confirms the famine in Rome during Claudius’ reign:

Tacitus, Annals 12.43

“This year witnessed many prodigies. Omened birds settled on the Capitol. Houses were flattened by repeated earthquakes, and as terror spread, the weak were trampled to death by the panic-stricken crowd. Further portents were seen in a shortage of corn, resulting in famine.” (Tacitus, Annals 12.43)

This widespread shortage of grain, particularly from Egypt, contributed to famine and unrest throughout the Roman Empire, including in Rome, Palestine, and Greece.

Cannibalism and Desperation #

The famine conditions became so dire that some people resorted to cannibalism to survive. Josephus describes the tragic story of a woman in Jerusalem who, in her desperation, killed her own child and ate him:

“There was a certain woman that dwelt beyond Jordan, her name was Mary; her father was Eleazar… she attempted a most unnatural thing; and snatching up her son, who was a child sucking at her breast, she said, ‘O thou miserable infant! for whom shall I preserve thee in this war, this famine, and this sedition?’”
As soon as she had said this, she slew her son, and then roasted him, and eat the one half of him, and kept the other half by her concealed. Upon this the seditious came in presently, and smelling the horrid scent of this food, they threatened her that they would cut her throat immediately if she did not show them what food she had gotten ready. She replied that she had saved a very fine portion of it for them, and withal uncovered what was left of her son. Hereupon they were seized with a horror and amazement of mind, and stood astonished at the sight, when she said to them, ―This is mine own son, and what hath been done was mine own doing! Come, eat of this food; for I have eaten of it myself! Do not you pretend to be either more tender than a woman, or more compassionate than a mother; but if you be so scrupulous, and do abominate this my sacrifice, as I have eaten the one half, let the rest be reserved for me also.
After which those men went out trembling, being never so much affrighted at anything as they were at this, and with some difficulty they left the rest of that meat to the mother. Upon which the whole city was full of this horrid action immediately; and while everybody laid this miserable case before their own eyes, they trembled, as if this unheard of action had been done by themselves. So those that were thus distressed by the famine were very desirous to die, and those already dead were esteemed happy, because they had not lived long enough either to hear or to see such miseries.”
(Josephus, Wars of the Jews 6.3.4)

This horrifying act is a powerful testament to the severity of the famine and the brutal conditions that led people to lose all semblance of normal human behaviour.

Misleading Prophecies About Famines Today #

Today’s prophets often misinterpret the biblical references to famines, applying them to future events rather than understanding them as signs that were fulfilled in the first century. The famines Jesus prophesied were not signs of a distant future, but events that would directly affect His audience, the generation living at the time of His ministry.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 must be understood in the context of the judgment that was to come upon Jerusalem and the Temple, as prophesied throughout the Old and New Testaments. The famines that occurred during the reign of Claudius and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 were the fulfilment of these prophecies.

We must be cautious about misapplying these signs to our own time, for while famines still occur today, these particular prophecies were warnings for the first-century believers. To understand them correctly, we must interpret them within the historical framework of the first century, not as a roadmap to future events.

Famines Then and Now #

Famines have always been a deeply significant theme in Scripture and history, often serving as both a physical reality and a spiritual metaphor. The devastating famines that are highlighted in history, such as those described by Richard Abanes in his End Times Visions, remind us of the consequences of human suffering and the deep need for God’s intervention.

Abanes, in his historical survey, mentions some of the most catastrophic famines in history:

• China (1849), where 14 million perished.

• China (1333-1337), with 4 million victims.

• Ireland (1846), where 1 million lives were lost.

• Russia (1920s), where 1 million died.

• Russia (1600) claimed 500,000 lives.

These numbers are staggering, and they paint a grim picture of the physical toll of famine. However, the Bible also speaks of famines in a spiritual context, particularly concerning God’s judgment, human sin, and His providence.

The famines mentioned in the New Testament were indeed fulfilled in the first century. They were not vague warnings for future generations, but specific predictions for the people of that time, particularly regarding the tribulations they would face before the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. While famines continue to affect parts of the world today, we must not mistakenly interpret these biblical warnings as of modern-day events. Instead, we should view them as part of the unfolding fulfilment of God’s plans for the first-century church and the nation of Israel.

By understanding the historical context and the specific events that these prophecies addressed, we can better discern the true meaning behind these “signs of the end,” and apply their lessons to our own lives with clarity and spiritual insight.

The Role of the Church: Practical and Spiritual Responses to Famine #

During times of famine, the Church became a vital means of support for the suffering. Believers were instructed to respond not just with sympathy, but with practical help, as seen in the early Church’s relief efforts.

This also reflected a deeper spiritual truth: in Christ, there is provision, even amid apparent scarcity. Paul’s collection for the famine-stricken believers in Judea underscores the principle that the Church is called to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those suffering.

This is also an opportunity to look at the deeper theological significance of famine. While famines were a literal and tragic reality, they also signified a lack of spiritual nourishment and fulfilment. In the context of prophecy, they symbolised a world that was under judgment—a world waiting for the Messiah to bring final restoration.

John 6:35 (AMP)
“Jesus replied to them, ‘I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me as Savior will never be thirsty.'”

Christ’s words are profound in the context of famine. While the physical hunger that comes from famine is tragic, Christ offers the Bread of Life, satisfying not only our physical needs but also our deepest spiritual longings.

Advances and Ongoing Challenges #

Modern advancements in agriculture and food distribution have indeed alleviated many famines that once devastated entire populations.

Technological developments in farming, such as genetically modified crops, drought-resistant plants, and global food aid networks, have helped reduce the scale of famines. However, we must recognise that famines still exist today, albeit often in the form of localised crises caused by political unrest, climate change, or poverty.

Even in a world with vast technological progress, famines remain a reminder of humanity’s fallen state. Despite the availability of food in many regions, hunger still exists in parts of the world, and there are still millions who suffer from malnutrition. As believers, we are called to respond, both to the spiritual hunger in the world and to the physical needs of those who are suffering.

Spiritual and Theological Implications of Famines #

In the light of Christ’s work, famines can serve as a metaphor for the spiritual famine that exists in the hearts of those who do not know Him. Christ, the Bread of Life, offers abundant provision—not just in the material sense, but in the spiritual sense. Famines remind us of the scarcity of God’s presence in the lives of those who have not yet turned to Him.

Revelation 7:16-17 (AMP)
“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

In this verse, we see the final restoration that Christ brings. No longer will there be hunger or thirst, for Christ Himself will provide for His people. The famines that once plagued the earth will be no more. This is the crowning hope for those who are suffering and the fulfilment of God’s promise to restore all things.

Christ, the Fulfilment of the Prophecy #

The famines mentioned in history and prophecy point to the brokenness of the world, but they also point to the hope we have in Christ. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of God’s provision, offering Himself as the Bread of Life to a spiritually hungry world. While famines may still occur in the natural world, they also reflect a deeper spiritual truth—that only in Christ do we find true satisfaction and provision.

As believers, we are not only called to respond to the physical needs of the suffering but also to share the message of Christ, the true Bread from Heaven, who satisfies both our temporal and eternal hunger.

In Christ,
Godwin.