What is the message of an earthquake? The author discusses the references to a few earthquakes in Scripture and looks at the signs of the end times.

Source: Reformed Herald, 2005. 3 pages.

Earthquakes and Other Disasters

And there shall be famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes in various places.

Matthew 24:7

How vividly we were reminded of the truth of these words in the past months. The destruction and devastation of the recent major disasters is almost unbelievable. Scores, hundreds, and even thousands of people can be killed or injured in a matter of seconds and minutes; homes, towns, cities, entire communities wiped out; thousands made destitute and homeless. The damage is almost incalculable, running into the millions and billions of dollars. The sorrow, the suffering and destruction are indescribable. The effects will be felt and remembered for years.

The question that arises for the believer when confronted by such disasters is: Is this a sign that the end of time is near? Earthquakes in particular, we believe, are a sign that soon our Lord shall return on the clouds of glory. It is well, especially in light of the recent hurricane disasters, that we consider what the Scriptures teach concerning such things.

Jesus speaks of those in Matthew 24:7: "And there shall be famines, and pestilence (plagues), and earthquakes in divers places." Although hurricanes are not mentioned specifically, the food shortages (famines) and pestilence (plagues) that result are. That such are presented as some of the signs of Jesus' coming and the end of the world is clear from verse 3 where Jesus' disciples came to Him privately, asking: "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" In response, Jesus refers to these things as signs.

Yet many have pointed out that earthquakes are not limited to any one location on this earth and certainly not to any one time period. It is simply not so that severe disasters have happened only in more recent years. For instance, from 1900 on there has been nothing to compare to the magnitude of the earthquake in 1556 in China where some 830,000 people were supposedly killed. Another in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1755 killed some 50,000. After 1900, in 1920, in China, an earthquake killed 180,000. In 1923, in the Tokyo-Yokohama area, 143,000 were killed. More recently and according to conservative estimates, in 1976, in China, an earthquake killed over 100,000 people just near the quake center alone. And of course, many of us can recall more recent major earthquakes that brought death and destruction. Can, then, earthquakes and other such disasters be considered as signs of the end of time? And shouldn't we regard these most recent disasters as more of the same, unrelated to the end of time?

The Scriptures say "No." These are definitely signs of the end of time. There should be no doubt about that because Jesus Himself points this out. However, Jesus also states: "All these are the beginnings of sorrow" (Matthew 24:8). This means that the signs Jesus mentions in verse 7 (famines, plagues, earthquakes) are not to be considered indications only of the imminent end of time. They are, rather, the "beginnings of sorrow." Literally, such signs represent the birth-pangs of the new creation. Each time one of these signs is seen, it is like the labor pains of a woman in travail. These pains come not just at the moment of birth, but for some time before, and as the birth approaches, with increasing frequency. So also the "beginnings of sorrow" are seen on this earth.

Each pestilence, each famine, each earthquake, each natural disaster, all of which cause pain and suffering, is used by God in order that finally the new heavens and the new earth may be ushered in. These pains have been present from the very beginning after the fall of man into sin. There were floods, plagues and earthquakes already before the first coming of Christ. We read of such in the Old Testament. These pains continue into the New Testament age and with greater frequency. Each time they are to remind us that the return of Christ is a little nearer.

The Scriptures suggest certain truths which earthquakes or disasters must convey. Such becomes evident when one considers the earthquakes recorded in Scripture and the times when they occurred. We read in Matthew 27:51-53: "And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after the resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Several times in the book of Revelation we read also of earthquakes. These are to come near the end of this age and are extremely devastating:

In 6:12 we read:

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 blood.

In 16:18-20 we read:

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: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

These earthquakes will come as the sign of God's judgment upon a wicked and corrupt world. God will tear apart this earth as it presently exists. He shall do all this in His wrath against all wicked and reprobate men. He will show the wicked no mercy. He will destroy all that in which they boast. The very earth, which the wicked consider relatively permanent, shall be torn apart.

Each earthquake or natural dis­aster which comes upon this earth is God's clear testimony and warning of this coming final judgment. Even now it is God's judgment upon wickedness, but also a reminder of the final earthquake and judgment which shall rock the very foundations of this earth. When we consider the nature of an earthquake, it is not difficult to understand it as a sign of judgment. God places many signs in His creation and many of them are not destructive. But the earthquake is among those signs which must be considered most terrible of all. An earthquake is the trembling of the solid ground, an upheaval of all that seems to be solid, stable and permanent. The ground rolls and buckles, great crevasses appear in it, and the very face of the ground is altered. Not only is an earthquake most terrifying for those that experience it, but it is also extremely destructive and can cause a tidal wave similar to the surge caused by a hurricane which can wreak more and even greater havoc and devastation.

God, both in the earthquake and hurricane, gives very clear witness that the earth is His and He does with it as He pleases. All such are signs that one day He will destroy the present order of things to make way for the perfected creation to come.

As believers, we must consider natural disasters in this light. We cannot simply deplore the terrible destruction and great loss of life. We must hear God speaking, reminding us that He is Almighty and that "herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, all things come not by chance, but by His Fatherly hand" (HC #27). We must also be reminded that He will not forget His people on the earth. His people may truly suffer much in such disasters as well. At times one might think that there is not a just and holy God Who sees the wickedness of ungodly men and Who does judge. But with each earthquake or natural disaster we have a reminder that God does see and judge. We do not rejoice in the loss of life or the destruction of property as such. But we do rejoice that God gives constant testimony that He is in control and that He does not forget the plight of His people on the earth. As believers we can observe in each of these disasters the "beginnings of sorrow" or birth-pangs of the new creation.

Disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, then, serve as signs of renewal. There was an earthquake at the time of Christ's death, but also again at the time of His resurrection from the dead. Both remind us that through the death and resurrection of Christ, there comes a renewal of all things. It is worthy to note that after Christ's death, three things took place: the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom; the graves were opened; the earth was rent. Each of these represented a tearing or rending of the old, and each rending was directly related to the death of Christ. Because of His suffering and death on the cross, the old is done away.

The veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom because through the death of Christ, the old Levitical system was done away with and His people now have direct access to God.

They need no more come by way of animal sacrifice, nor through the priest. The graves were opened as a sign of the fact that through the death of Christ, the grave no longer has victory. His people shall arise from the graves in the last day in order to inherit the new heavens and new earth.

The earth was rent. Presently this earth is affected by the curse. The thorn and thistle still grow. Drought strikes the earth. The hot sun parches it. Famine racks it. Earthquakes, hurricanes, fire, volcanoes, tornadoes change its very terrain. Disease destroys much of it. Death affects all of it. This is the earth on which we live. The earth is under the curse because of man's transgression. Therefore we read in Romans 8:21, 22: "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." The rending of the earth, therefore, at Christ's death and again at His resurrection indicates that this old, corrupted earth shall be rent in order that the new might be ushered in. The curse presently affecting the earth can be removed because of the perfect work of Christ on the cross. He removed the curse and condemnation upon His people by satisfying the justice of God. When He returns, creation itself shall be delivered from the bondage of this corruption. The old must be rent in order that the new may come.

That reminds faithful children of God of the truth that they must have their hearts set on the heavenly rather than upon the things of the earth. The things of the earth shall surely pass away. Some place their hearts on the earthly. Like the rich man in Christ's parable, they make plans to take their ease, for their souls have gotten them much goods. But all these things shall be taken away, not only in the last day, but in the day of our death. We can take none of the material with us. So God sends reminders of this fact. In the various natural disasters, those who were rich were in a moment stripped of all they possessed. It does not take God long to remove from one everything that he has. How foolish then to set one's heart upon earthly riches! The believer looks rather for the new, which shall never be rent nor destroyed. There only righteousness shall dwell (cf. 2 Peter 3:13). There we shall behold the face of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:12; Revelation 22:4). That is the reality for which the believer longs.

Earthquakes and other natural disasters speak to us. They tell us that the Lord is coming. They are not only a message of doom and judgment, but of comfort and hope as well. Perhaps, in a human sense, we may be afraid of these signs, especially if we are affected by a terrible disaster. But by faith we can know and believe that such are a sign of our swift and sure salvation.

Dear reader, listen to these signs and their testimony. If you do listen, then you will hear the footsteps of Christ as He comes for salvation and judgment. You will hear those footsteps in the earth, so that the very ground trembles at His coming. And when you hear those heavy steps resounding throughout the world, then your faith will be strengthened in the knowledge and conviction that your Lord is coming to execute judgment upon all the workers of iniquity and to redeem His people unto eternal perfection in the new heavens and the new earth. Watch, therefore, for the Lord comes!

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