Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.
Over the past week, there has been a swarm of earthquakes under the Salton Sea. Granted, most of the earthquakes have been less than 2.5 in magnitude. One issue is the location. This earthquake swarm is located on the southern edge of the San Andreas Fault Line. At the time of this post, approximately 275 tremors have occurred under the Salton Sea in the last week. Is the Big One coming???
Mark 13:7-8 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. –Jesus
There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).
Is this Jesus referring to here and now of the early 21st century? If not, no big deal, life goes on.
If so, serious consequences. BIG TROUBLE for earthlings.
Revelation 16:17-20 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.
The context of this verse is before the Second Coming of Christ. It occurs near the end of the seven year Tribulation. The Millennial Kingdom is about to commence. The seventh bowl concludes the judgments upon the earth and humanity.
…and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The last earthquake mentioned in the Bible will be the largest and strongest in the history of humanity. This earthquake will also be the most destructive. The Greek expression of the quake is restated three times. The earthquake is greatness and magnitude upon greatness and magnitude upon greatness and magnitude. The scale and power are larger than the Discovery Channel can imagine. It is the Mega Quake!
The great city was split into three parts. The great city is mystery Babylon. Some think the city is a reborn Babylon in modern day Iraq. Others think it is Rome. Some believe it is Istanbul, Turkey. Mecca, Saudi Arabia is a city on seven hills. Pick your seven hilled city. Conjecture in regards to city is pointless.
…and the cities of the nations fell… All the cities (plural) of the nations (plural) are doomed. The Greek word for “fell” is πιπτο (pipto). Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: to descend from a higher place to a lower; to be thrust down; come to an end, disappear, cease; to lose authority, no longer have force. Metaphorically: to fall under judgment, came under condemnation. “It is done!”
And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. The idea of no more mountains and changed geography is noted in multiple places in the Bible. Revelation is not the only source of this concept.
Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
Psalm 46:6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants.
Isaiah 24:19 The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken.
Micah 1:4 And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
The level of destruction is unimaginable. We cannot comprehend. It says what it says.
Revelation 8:5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
Revelation 11:13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
Revelation 16:18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
This set of quakes takes place seven years before the Millennial Kingdom. Geography and geology are going to change for planet Earth. Each earthquake will increase with regard to intensity. The first quake in Revelation 6:12 moves mountains and islands out of their place. A seismic chain of reaction is started. Additional quakes will facilitate further land mass movement. The land we live on floats on molten lava and magma. The last quake in Revelation 16:18 will be the greatest in the history of man.
A pattern emerges with earthquakes in the book of Revelation. Earthquakes mark the end of each set of judgments (seals, trumpets, and bowls). The first earthquake in Revelation 6:12 is the sixth seal. The quake in Revelation 8:5 occurs before the beginning of the trumpet judgments. It is the seventh seal. The earthquake in Revelation 11:13 marks the sixth trumpet of seven. The quake in Revelation 11:19 is the seventh trumpet before the bowl judgments. The last earthquake in Revelation 16:18 marks the end of the seven bowl judgments.
In addition to the quake activity, imagine the collateral events associated. It is plausible to imagine significant volcanic eruptions which spew dust, ash, steam, and gases into the atmosphere. Tsunamis are highly likely. Breathing is going to be difficult. Joel 2:30-31 I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
Revelation 11:13…Jerusalem is the city referenced. Today (2016), Jerusalem’s population is estimated to be around 800,000+. The verse states a tenth of city’s infrastructure is destroyed. 7,000 people are prophesied to die in this earthquake.
This earthquake is also the exclamation point for the resurrection of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. People refuse to bury these two guys after they are killed by the antichrist. They are left to rot as an example. The Earth is throwing a party in honor of their death.
Revelation 6:12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;
The context of the set of verses in Revelation 6 is the initial third of the Tribulation, the seals. This event takes place approximately 7 years before the beginning of Christ’s Kingdom. Granted, there appears to be significant issues with the sun, moon, stars, atmosphere and sky in this context. But, the focus of the series is the geological and geographical changes coming to planet Earth.
The earthquake starts the chain of events in the sixth seal. The quake is described as “great” or μεγασ (megas) in the Greek. It can be translated as significant, severe, gigantic, or YUGE (huge) per Strong’s Concordance. This earthquake will be a big deal.
Revelation 6:14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
…and every mountain and island were moved out of their places…This is exactly what the verse says in the Greek. “Every” mountain and island moved out of its place. Each, every, the whole, all of them are moved.
The root word for “moved” is κινεο (kineo). It can also be translated: to cause to go, to move, set in motion. Figuratively, it will cause a commotion (NET Bible/Strong’s Concordance).
This verse is suggesting tectonic plate movement and change across the planet. The earthquake will knock things out of their place. Consider all of the mountain ranges in the world: The Rockies, Andes, Urals, Alps, Himalayas…Consider all of the islands in the world…
Recent history (early 21st century, May 2016) has not seen an earthquake that has caused continents to initiate movement and drifting. Modern day maps and globes will be obsolete.
Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
God does not care how deep your bunker is. God does not care how much you have prepared. God does not care if you are the leader of a country. Military training will not save you. He does not care how much money and wealth one has acquired. Your intellect is no match for the Lamb (Jesus). It does not matter if you are isolated. A piece of advice to the social elite, you can run but you cannot hide.
Revelation 6:16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb…
Be careful what you wish for. God will give you what you want. Revelation 16:20 beckons.
Luke 21:11 …and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. –Jesus
There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Mark 13:8. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).
There are at least 7 references to earthquakes in the book of Revelation alone. The beast of all historical earthquakes is to take place in Revelation 16:18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
The end result of this earthquake is Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. These passages are suggestive of significant, changed geography of planet Earth. No more islands, no more mountains! What we are seeing now is a starter kit.
Earthquake activity has recently picked up in the Holy Land. Starting May 15, 2016, quakes have been noted on the fault line running through the Red Sea north towards Israel. Earthquakes were noted in Egypt (5.1) and southern Israel (4.8).
Seismic and volcanic activity is picking up around the globe. New activity/unrest was observed at 4 volcanoes between May 4 and 10, 2016. Continued activity was reported for 19 volcanoes. On May 16, 2016, five volcanoes erupted on the same day.
The US Federal Government has a preparedness exercise scheduled for June 7-10, 2016 called Cascadia Rising. The focus is the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Here is the opening paragraph from FEMA.
A 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) and the resulting tsunami is the most complex disaster scenario that emergency management and public safety officials in the Pacific Northwest could face. Cascadia Rising is an exercise to address that disaster.
Isaiah 30:26 The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted.
The context of these comments is a future time when the Lord is present on Earth. Day and night as we know it in February of 2016 will change. What we know as day time will be consistent with a future night time during the Millennial Kingdom. The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun.
Day time as we know it will be significantly brighter…and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days…
Increased light has to impact agricultural production significantly to the upside. Photosynthesis of plant life will be occurring at all times due to continuous light.
Prior to the return of Christ, the earth will be coming from a place of darkness…literally and figuratively. Light is progressively diminished during the Tribulation as noted in Revelation. The Tribulation is a seven year period noted with volcanic and seismic activity. Fire, brimstone, and smoke are noted in Tribulation verses. The sun is progressively blotted away and darkness will descend.
Revelation 6:12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood…
Revelation 8:12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
Revelation 9:2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.
Revelation 9:18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.
Revelation 18:9b …will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning… (in regards to mystery Babylon). Further smoke and burning are noted in Revelation 18:18.
Earthquake activity is noted in Revelation 6:12, 8:5, 11:13, and 16:18.
Darkness, figuratively and literally, will come to an end with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 60:19-20 No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory. Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over.
Mark 13:7-8 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. –Jesus
There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).
What state had the most earthquakes in 2014? Alaska or California? Wrong answer, Oklahoma! Ten years ago, would anyone have predicted Oklahoma would have the most earthquakes in the United States, Right?!? Recent trends have shown a significant increase in seismic activity in the Sooner state. Are these acts of God? Is it because of fracking in the oil and gas industry?
Does humanity have a history of impacting the environment? Absolutely, from the beginning of time. Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.”
Isaiah 24:5-6 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.
Romans 8:19-22 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hopethat the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
There is clearly an increased trend of earthquake activity on planet earth. The numbers tell the story. See post link for more details.
Check Mark 13:7-8 against today’s world. Are there wars and rumors of wars? Are nations and kingdoms threatening each other? Are there earthquakes in various places? Are there places of famine in today’s world?
The point of the blog is this. The claim is NOT being made that now (February 2015) is this time. The point is; the conditions of the Mark 13:7-8 are noted in today’s world.
If now (February 2015) is the time Jesus is referring to, this is only the beginning…
Just a reminder, we are still waiting on a temple to be rebuilt.
Luke 21:11 …and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. –Jesus
There are parallel passages regarding earthquakes by Jesus in Matthew 24:7 and Mark 13:8. The context is the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is answering questions from the disciples regarding the signs of His coming and the End of the Age (Matthew 24:3).
There are at least 7 references to earthquakes in the book of Revelation alone. The beast of all historical earthquakes is to take place in Revelation 16:18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
The end result of this earthquake is Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. These passages are suggestive of significant, changed geography of planet Earth. No more islands, no more mountains! What we are seeing now (July 2014) is a starter kit.
Are there actually more earthquakes taking place as time goes by? Or does it just seem like it? It seems like earthquakes 5.0 or greater on the Richter Scale are becoming common place. At times, they seem like white noise. What do the numbers indicate? Here are two graphs noted below. The source for the information is the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
