By John Roberts, January 23, 2004

What is the significance and relevance of this story to last days prophecy?

Earthquakes are mentioned many times in scripture.   A few examples include when Jesus was crucified and resurrected:

Matthew 27:54

  54    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.

Matthew 28:2

  2    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.

Last days prophecies in the books of Isaiah and Revelation also make reference to earthquakes:

Isaiah 29:6-8

  6    Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
  7    And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
  8    It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

Revelation 11:13

  13     And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 16:17-20

  17    And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
  18    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.
  19    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.
  20    And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

And in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke Christ gives us a warning of increased quake activity in the last days:

Matthew 24:4-8

  4    And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
  5    For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
  6    And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
  7    For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
  8    All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Many people scoff at the idea that earthquakes are predicted in scripture.  But that is not surprising since these people also scoff at God, Jesus Christ, and creationism.  These earthquakes will take place, precisely as foretold in the Bible.

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