“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” –Matthew 24:6-8
The tragic earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria have led many to speculate about Christ’s return. “Earthquakes in diverse places” are one of the signs Jesus mentioned as preceding the end, as recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Actually, a number of earthquakes are mentioned in the Bible, both historically and prophetically.
1 Kings 19 records part of the story of Elijah. Before he was commissioned to anoint Jehu King over Israel and Hazael King over Syria, the LORD appeared to him. As He arrived there was a mighty wind, an earthquake, a fire and a still small voice.
The prophet Amos used an earthquake as a reference point. He lists who the Kings of Israel and Judah were at the time and further clarifies by saying it was “two years before the earthquake” (Amos 1:1). Archaeological excavations and studies in the Dead Sea have confirmed a major earthquake in the 750’s BC. It was estimated to have been 8.2 in magnitude. The recent quakes came in at 7.9 and 7.2. Zechariah, though writing many years later, also mentions the earthquake in Amos as a type of what will be happening before the Day of the Lord (Zechariah 14:5).
Many other prophecies concerning the return of Christ mention earthquakes. Isaiah 29:1-7 reads, “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel. And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
“Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. 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. 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.”
Ariel is Jerusalem. The word itself means “lion of God,” implying strength (Strong’s Concordance, #739 & #740). The similarities to Elijah’s encounter are obvious. Compare also the storms, fire and quaking in Exodus 19 when the LORD descended to give Moses the law and the ten commandments.
Jesus alluding to the destruction of Jerusalem was what prompted His disciples to ask, “when shall these things be?” (Matthew 24:3) and led to the amazing prophecies already referenced in Matthew, Mark and Luke. One specifically mentions, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:20).
Earthquakes are definitely a sign, but they are not the only sign. Read those crucial chapters in your own Bible. Along with war, famine, pestilence and religious persecution they are called “the beginning of sorrows.” The Abomination of Desolation is also a sign (see back cover). How do we know if these are the earthquakes, wars and pestilences of prophecy? After all, history is replete with such occurrences.
The United States Geological Survey says, “According to long-term records (since about 1900), we expect about 16 major earthquakes in any given year.” Those are earthquakes with a minimum magnitude of 7.0. Thankfully, many of them occur away from population centers or deep in the oceans. The frequency also fluctuates, “The year with the largest total was 2010, with 23 major earthquakes… 1989 only had 6 major earthquakes and 1988 only had 7.” More precise instruments and increased interest have also led to more quakes being detected. “It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.” (USGS.gov)
Such statistics are of little comfort to those whose lives are destroyed. The death count in Turkey and Syria has pushed over 47,000 at this writing. Millions more are without adequate food and shelter. There is real concern that a lack of sanitation will lead to an explosion of disease. An earthquake of similar strength stuck San Francisco in 1906, the deadliest in American history. Almost the entire city was destroyed (largely from subsequent fires) and more than 3,000 lost their lives. That was when the population was approximately 400,000. What would the toll have been on the 4.5 million that live in the area today?
Population density is definitely a factor. A 1556 AD earthquake in Shaanxi, China is thought to have buried over 100,000 people. It is not known how many perished from the fallout but nearly 1 million fewer residents were recorded in the next year’s census. Tangshan, China had a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 1976 that killed over 300,000.
Are these the earthquakes of prophecy? There is an erroneous notion that Christ could return at any moment. This is not true. Many specific events are prophesied to take place before that happens. That is why Jesus Christ commanded us to WATCH! (Matthew 24:42) A thorough knowledge of what the Bible actually says is indispensable.
Revelation 6:12-14 says, “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; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
Few would contend that this has already transpired, and if you keep reading you will see that there is still a ways to go from there. That being said, when you look at everything happening around the world it is easy to see how end time events could begin to transpire. Evil abounds, governments are both fragile and confrontational.
Our responsibility remains the same: Watching, waiting, remaining a light to the nations as the world descends into darkness. “And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Luke 12:42-43) Things will get worse before they get better. “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8).
