Luke 21:28

“But when these things begin to come about, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

So the final consequence of the sufferings and tragedies of the ages will be the coming of Christ to receive His own, and to bring His final judgment on the world. And the result is that as we become aware of such things it should cause us to lift up our heads, recognising that our final redemption draws ever closer. While he suffers with those who suffer, the Christian is not surprised at what is coming on the world, indeed he expects it. Whether it be earthquake, volcanic eruption, hurricane, tsunami, human bombs or whatever, he sees it as a reminder of man's sinfulness and judgment, and as God's reminder that His Son will be coming ‘soon', to take His own to be with Himself, and to bring on the world a judgment which in Scripture is constantly pictured in terms of all these tragedies, and much, much more.

‘Look up.' The verb means to raise oneself from a stooping position, to stand upright, and therefore to look with confidence and elation. Out of the trial that will come on him the Christian continually looks up in order to visualise the One Who is coming. He is able to lift up his head because he looks to his coming deliverance by Him.

‘Your redemption.' The final release from the bondage of sin and of the world, which has become a possibility because He gave His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), paying the price for sin (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18). See also Luke 22:37.