Do volcanoes and earthquakes signal the end of times?

Earthquakes, tornadoes and recent volcanic eruptions stimulate a rather common topic of discussion within church Bible-study groups and Sunday school classes. Some people are deeply concerned that these events may foreshadow the world's future demise.
Are we truly living in the last days? The Bible warns of end times preceded by earthquakes in diverse places, but does this scripture apply to the present day?
And there often is a related question: "Why does God let this happen?"
"God is not controlling things as we think," New Day Christian Church pastor George Logan said. In his opinion, the "terra firma" we live upon is leased to us as human beings.
"God has given us dominion over the works of his hands," he continued. "We are renting the earth. It's on lease to us from God."
"God can only intervene at our request," Logan continued. "That's why prayer is so important."
Scripture says the prince of the power of the air, Satan, is maneuvering in the Earth's realm and, because the earth was cursed by God under Adam, Logan stated, "The earth is still waiting for its own redemption."
Logan agreed that the Bible speaks of disasters as we draw closer to the end of time. Is God trying to get our attention?
Logan said, "God's primary way to get the attention is the proclamation of the gospel from the standpoint of what He has to say." If a disaster moves us to turn our attention to God and His word, so be it, he added.
Whether God allows disasters and tragedies, Silver Creek Seventh-day Adventist church pastor Barry Mahorney said, "God is sovereign and he could in fact stop these events." He doesn't believe they are a type of punishment though.
"They (disasters) do help us to realize we are living in the end of time," Mahorney said.
He believes these events spark a call to service.
"It awakens the Christian community; we realize we are here to be servants and help," he said.
Logan said he has seen an outpouring of Christian love and support through tragedy.
"I've had a parishioner whose home burned down and the body of Christ came together not only from our church, but throughout the community," he said, "and helped them emotionally get through it."
Logan lived in California during the 1994 Earthquake, but it was the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles that he refers to as more dangerous.
"I don't think I've been exposed to anything like it before or after," he said. "There was malice throughout the whole city and ill will to people."
Studying in ministry school at the time, Logan said he and another student transported a lady across the city to safety.
"They were just picking people at random, so the two of us escorted a lady home," he said. The three formed a convoy of vehicles. "To me, on a small scale, that's how the body of Christ comes together."
"During any disaster the greatest resource we have is one another," Logan added.
Mahorney described ministering to his congregation through the loss of their homes to fire.
"The most tragic I remember was a family who awakened to a fire," he said. "They all got out, but the husband went back into the house and didn't make it out."
"I tell people in situations like this, or during a suicide, I don't have the answers, but I know a God who does and our comforter is the Holy Spirit who comes alongside and is here to support us," Mahorney said.
People with Christian faith have hope, Logan said.
"Our hope is always God's word," he said. "Those who experience tragedy and have a deep-founded faith in God have a greater hope."
Citing Matthew 24, Mahorney said, "Jesus talks about natural disasters being part of the end of time. That's where our hope is. Jesus is going to come and when He does it will put an end to these things."
"God is the God of everlasting life," Mahorney explained. "We still live in a world of sin, but we can pray for ourselves and the community. If in fact these are signs of the end of time and Jesus' coming is soon, we want to make sure we are ready to meet Jesus and others as well."