As earthquakes continue to shake various parts of the world, evangelist John Ramirez believes Christians should pay close attention—not simply to seismic activity, but to the spiritual condition of the nations.
In a recent video message, Ramirez pointed to Jesus’ prophetic words in Matthew 24, where Christ described earthquakes as part of the “birth pains” leading up to His return.
“God is setting up the stage for the coming of the Messiah,” Ramirez said. “The Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus of Nazareth.”
Ramirez reminded listeners that Christ’s first coming was marked by mercy.
“When He first came, He came as an attorney to plead your case and my case,” he said. “But when He’s coming back, He’s not coming back as an attorney. He’s coming back as a judge to judge the righteous and the wicked.”
The evangelist then turned his attention to Venezuela following reports of a recent earthquake there. While expressing compassion for those affected, he also challenged what he believes is the nation’s growing embrace of Santeria and other forms of spirit worship.
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Ramirez, who spent 25 years involved in Santería before becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, argued that public celebrations honoring spirits such as Changó reflect the kind of idolatry Scripture repeatedly warns against.
“I was one of those, and I got saved,” Ramirez said. “Praise be to God.”
According to Ramirez, believers should never rejoice when tragedy strikes.
“We do hurt for the people,” he said. “We don’t rejoice over that.”
Instead, he called on the body of Christ to respond with prayer rather than condemnation.
“We pray for mercy,” Ramirez said repeatedly, emphasizing that God’s desire is for repentance and salvation.
Throughout Scripture, idolatry is portrayed as a serious offense against God. From the warnings given to ancient Israel to the New Testament’s repeated exhortations to flee from idols, the Bible consistently calls believers to worship the Lord alone. While Scripture teaches that God judges nations, it also reveals His heart to extend mercy to those who turn to Him in repentance.
Ramirez urged Christians to embrace their biblical role as spiritual watchmen during what he believes are increasingly significant prophetic times.
“Our job is to be the watchmen on the wall,” he said. “To pray for Venezuela and the surrounding people around the world that their eyes will be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ.”
Ramirez’s central message is unmistakable: believers should respond to global upheaval not with fear or celebration of judgment, but with repentance, compassion and earnest intercession. As earthquakes, wars and growing instability continue to dominate headlines, his appeal echoes the biblical call for God’s people to stand in prayer, proclaim the gospel and point people toward the only lasting hope found in Jesus Christ.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
