God’s Use of Earthquakes

Collingswood Presbyterian Church, Collingswood, NJ

GOD’S USE OF EARTHQUAKES 

The Bible says in Psalm 95:4,5, “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the sea is his, and he made it.. .. ” The psalmist clearly says that the deep places of the earth are in God’s hand. So, if they are in God’s hand, we have to conclude that they are also under his control, which we do.

In what has been called the fifth deadliest earthquake, the extremely powerful 9.0 earthquake and resulting deadly tidal wave, which occurred in the Indian Ocean, has killed at least 230,000 people throughout the region. Untold property damage has occurred with some towns being obliterated out of existence. Even the island of Sumatra, which is 500 miles long and 50 miles wide, was moved 120 feet out of place.

So what are we supposed to understand from all this as far as God’s role in these earthquakes? The Bible has some things to say about this and we can understand from the scriptures that there are four distinct reasons for these earthquakes. They are due to the sin curse put on the earth by God; they are for signs; for confirming or accentuating an important event, and for judgment.

Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” When Adam and Eve sinned, part of the curse was put on the earth also; hence we have the storms, volcanoes and the earthquakes, etc.

Let’s look at some of the past and future earthquakes in the Bible. In Matthew 24:27, the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of his coming. Jesus answered saying that there would be false Christ’s deceiving many, wars, famines, pestilences and EARTHQUAKES in divers (many) places. If Jesus said that there would be an increase in these earthquakes just prior to his return, then we have to conclude that these earthquakes are from God’s hand and that He is the one who is shaking the earth as a sign that His return is near. Geological records show that there has been a pronounced increase in the last several decades.

Did you realize that earthquakes occurred at both the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ? Let’s look at these.

In Matthew 27:50,51 we read the account of Jesus dying on the cross. Here it says that just at the time that Christ died, ” … the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to the bottom; and the EARTH DID QUAKE …. ” Then, in verse 54 it says,” Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the EARTHQUAKE, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” Here is God almighty at work. The sun is now blacked out, darkness is all over the land, and now God is shaking the earth with a will-full, intentional earthquake to bring further attention and confirmation to this great sin- sacrifice when the Son of God died for you and me.

Oh how they must have talked for years about this blackened sun, the darkness and the earthquake. These acts of God could not be denied or just relegated to some sort of freak act of nature.

Now at the time of Christ’s resurrection, we have another earthquake. Matthew 28:1-4 says, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” Here once again we see God using an earthquake to accentuate another great event concerning his Son and His resurrection from the dead! These two Mary’s and the soldiers must have told this story of the angel rolling back the stone, and the simultaneous earthquake until the day they died. 

In Acts 16:25,26 we have another earthquake. The Apostle Paul and Silas are in jail praying and singing praises unto God. Verse 26, “And suddenly there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” God once again confirms a mighty act of His with an earthquake. God broke open the stocks and jail doors with his power and then confirmed His presence with a great earthquake. Surely this miracle comforted Paul and Silas, affirming that God was with them. 

Now in the book of Revelation there are a number of earthquakes, including the great earthquake of Revelation 16. This book describes the coming judgments from God on man and the earth during the seven-year tribulation period, the rise and doom of the Anti-Christ, and the glorious return and reign of Jesus Christ for one thousand years. 

After the church has been raptured out and the Christians are gone, you have a series of judgments known as the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven vials. This series of judgments are almost incomprehensible as you read of their absolute devastating effects on man and the earth. Part of these judgments includes earthquakes. Let’s look at them. 

Revelation 6: 12, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.” This earthquake begins, or announces more judgment. Just as had happened at the crucifixion, the sun is once again blacked out, the stars fall from heaven to the earth and every mountain and island are moved out of their place. Verse 17, “for the great day of his wrath has come…”

Revelation 8:5, “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire off the altar, and cast it into the eaith: and there were voices, ai1d thunderings, and lightnings, and an EARTHQUAKE.” Here we have another earthquake. This one is an introduction to the awful judgment of the seven trumpets which includes the trees burning up, the sea turned to blood and the stinging locusts, etc.

Revelation 11 describes two very interesting figures identified as God’s “two witnesses.” These two men, Moses and Elijah, are now back on the scene in Jerusalem for the purpose of judgment for 3 1/2 years. After they’ve inflicted the world with 3 ½ years of drought, turned the water into blood, and smote the earth with many plagues, God allows them to be killed and for 3 ½ days their bodies will lay in the street. The whole world, for 3 ½ days, is now rejoicing because these two prophets, who tormented them, are now dead. The people of the earth are now so happy that they will send gifts to each other in celebratiion. But then great fear falls upon them because God raises them back to life again! At this point they are taken back to heaven in a cloud while their enemies behold them. Then the Bible says in verse 13, ” … there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE … and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand.” So once again we see God using an earthquake to accentuate a great event and bring judgment.

What a sign that will be for those on the earth at that time. Most likely their two bodies will be rotting with the stench of death and they will leave them there for all the T.V. cameras to show the world that they’re finally dead, but then they’re raised back to life again, and an earthquake completes the event.

In Revelation 16 we have an account of an earthquake that is so huge and so 

devastating that it really defies full comprehension. At this point in the tribulation period, we have the seven vial judgments being poured out on the earth. Revelation 16: 1 says, ” … Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”

Each one of these vial judgments is severe in their descriptions and devastating in their consequences. We have the grievous sores inflicted on those who worship or have the mark of the Anti-Christ; we have the sea turned to blood, with every living thing dying; the river and fountains turned to blood; the sun’s heat will increase so as to scorch them with fire. Then after all this, we have this massive earthquake. Verses 18, 19. “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, AND THE  CITIES OF THE NATIONS FELL. .. ” Verse 20, “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” This earthquake will be so massive and wrenching in power that it will literally shake and convulse the whole earth, causing all of the structures in the cities of the nations to come crashing down. This means that all of the world’s  skyscrapers, including smaller buildings, are going to collapse in a gigantic worldwide destruction. The scripture says: “The cities of the nations fell.” If that’s what is says  then we have to believe it. And then verse 20 says, “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” This earthquake is going to so disfigure and dislodge the earth that the islands and mountains are going to literally disappear as they’re swallowed up.

As we’ve read in these scriptural accounts, we can certainly see how God has used, and will use earthquakes in the future. So, can we conclude that God’s hand was active in the December 9.0 earthquake? We can’t say conclusively that it was an intentional judgment, but we do know that these areas are largely heathen Muslim lands that despise the true God of heaven. We know there’s a lot of Christian persecution and murder there also. These areas are also well known for their illicit sex, including child­sex that had regular chartered flights coming from Europe to engage in. All this makes one wonder, but I think Dr. Louis Brighton said it best in 1999 when he wrote, “According to the prophetic proclamation of both the Old Testament and of the Revelation of John, there are no such things as accidents of nature or of history or of social events. All the horrors and terrifying events that afflict the human race, whether from the forces of nature in earthquakes and droughts, or whether from the many diseases that infect the human body, all result because of man’s sin against God. But all take place under the sovereign permissive will of God for the purpose of leading mankind to repentance, and He controls them for the purpose and for the ultimate benefit of His creation and His own glory.” 

It is through calamity that we realize the transiency of material things and it is through death that we consider the brevity of life and the need to flee the wrath to come.

Have you repented of your sins and received Christ as your Savior? God implores  you to come now before it is eternally too late. Romans 10:9,10 says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”