There's a Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On

I was watching a show on the History Channel the other night called Megaquake 10.0. On this program, scientists were discussing all the earthquake prone areas from California's San Andreas fault, the Northwest's Cascadia subduction zone, the Midwest's New Madrid fault, the tectonic plate and subduction zone called the Peru-Chili trench, Japan, and the Himalayan fold-thrust belt which involves India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. And I haven't even talked about the Mediterranean. Now I'm no geologist. As a matter of fact, I barely passed geology when I was in college. But I do understand subduction zones and how we're floating on tectonic plates.

Looking at the news yesterday, here's what I read:

Sicily’s Mt. Etna erupts overnight
Fascinating article that even has a video taken by someone in a hotel room, watching the eruption.

Swarm of quakes rattle San Benito County

Indonesia volcano prompts evacuation plan

Magnitude 7.3 quake strikes off New Caledonia: USGS

Then I went to a website I like to visit that will show the latest earthquakes in the world for the past 7 days.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

Okay, now people who know me know that I seem to have fascination with natural disaster. In a way I do. But don't get me wrong. I dislike suffering and distruction. So where am I going with this?

This website has listed 5 significant earthquakes for 2011.

Magnitude 7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011
Magnitude 6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011
Magnitude 4.1 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA January 08, 2011
Magnitude 7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011
Magnitude 7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011

Now remember this, today is only the 14th of January. This doesn't count all the earthquakes that aren't considered significant.

I decided to check and see how many times the word earthquake(s) appeared in the Bible. Looking in the NKJV, I found 17 verses that mentioned earthquake or earthquakes. So the Earth has been shaking for a long time. But I want to look at a couple of those verses.

I believe the one that most people are familiar with is:
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. Matthew 24:6-7 (NKJV)

But it is the earthquakes mentioned in the Book of Revelation that really caught my eye.

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Revelation 6:12-14 (NKJV)

In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:13 (NKJV)

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. Revelation:16:17-20 (NKJV)

Now what does all of this mean? Are these the beginning of birth pains? I believe so, but don't take my word on it. Please look it up and study it for yourselves. The general consensus, which I agree with, is that we will be seeing more and more earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters. I also believe that God is sending us a warning. Time is short.

2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV)

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:27 (NKJV)

God willing, until next time

Maranatha