Calamity

In the biblical context, calamity refers to disastrous events or situations that bring about great distress or suffering. The Bible often attributes calamities to divine judgment or as a means of testing and refining the faith of God's people. Calamities can be natural, such as famines, plagues, and earthquakes, or they can be man-made, such as wars and invasions.

The Old Testament frequently depicts calamity as a consequence of sin and disobedience to God's commandments. In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, which include various calamities: "The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything you do, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness of your deeds in forsaking Me" (Deuteronomy 28:20).

The prophets often warned of impending calamities as a result of Israel's unfaithfulness. For instance, Jeremiah prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem as a divine response to the people's idolatry and injustice: "For I will summon all the families of the north," declares the LORD, "and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land and against its residents and against all the surrounding nations" (Jeremiah 25:9).

In the New Testament, calamities are sometimes seen as signs of the end times. Jesus speaks of wars, famines, and earthquakes as "the beginning of birth pains" (Matthew 24:8), indicating that such events are part of the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Terror

Terror in the Bible is often associated with fear and dread, particularly in the context of divine judgment or the presence of God. The fear of the Lord is a recurring theme, emphasizing reverence and awe towards God, but terror can also refer to the overwhelming fear experienced by those who oppose God or witness His mighty acts.

In the Old Testament, terror is frequently depicted as a tool used by God to subdue His enemies and protect His people. For example, when the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, God promised to send terror ahead of them to drive out the inhabitants: "I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and flee" (Exodus 23:27).

The Psalms often reflect the psalmists' experiences of terror, whether from external threats or internal struggles. In Psalm 91, the psalmist speaks of God's protection from terror: "You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day" (Psalm 91:5). This assurance highlights the believer's trust in God's sovereignty and protection amidst fearful circumstances.

In the New Testament, terror is sometimes associated with the final judgment. The Book of Revelation describes the terror that will befall those who reject God: "Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb'" (Revelation 6:15-16).

Overall, the Bible presents calamity and terror as realities of a fallen world, often serving as instruments of divine justice or as catalysts for spiritual awakening and repentance.