Earthquakes Of
Biblical Proportion
By Doug Krieger
The “Mega Tsunami” which
struck the Indian Ocean region on December 26, 2004, wrought by a 9.0 “Great
Earthquake”
on the Richter Magnitude Scale, released an awful devastation unparalleled in
modern history—now approaching 150,000 dead with prospects of deadly disease
which could double fatalities, while leaving 5 million homeless! Sri Lanka
alone is now recording dead and missing at over 70,000! Keep in mind that the
Richter scale is a ten-fold amplitude increase in the earthquake vibrations
and results in a hundred-fold increase in energy released (e.g., a 4.5 quake
normally is equivalent to 100 tons of TNT energy release; whereas a 5.5 quake
would release 10 kilotons of energy of what the 4.5 quake released, etc.).
The world’s
greatest-ever relief effort is underway!
One hundred miles west of the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, and some six miles beneath the oceans bottom, the quake released its fury and subsequent tsunami waves.
The dead and missing among European nations alone is as follows:
Sweden: 59 dead, over,
3,500 missing
Germany: 34 dead, over 1,000 missing
Britain: 34 dead, unconfirmed number missing
France: 22 dead, 96 missing
Norway: 21 dead, 430 missing
Italy: 14 dead, 700 missing
Finland: 14 dead, 263 missing
Switzerland: 12 dead, 850 missing
Denmark: 7 dead, 419 missing
Austria: 5 dead, up to 100 missing
Russia: 1 dead, 80 missing
MEGA TSUNAMIS
Mega Tsunamis are formed through water displacement. Landslides, eruptions of volcanoes, or, as happened in Indonesia, slippage between two of the earth’s tectonic plates. Slabs of rock up to 50 feet thick which carry Earth’s continents and seas on much hotter, liquefied material, stress and break at angles causing small and massive movements of the continents.
What happened December 26 caused slippage along a 600 mile boundary between the Burmese and Indian plates off the northern Sumatra Island coast.
Mega Tsunamis can travel 600 miles per hour at their ocean depths, but they slow as they approach the shoreline, where their inexorable surge hits the shore around 30 to 40 mph. All the tsunamis’ energy is transferred to the height and force as it nears the shoreline.
HISTORIAL DATA
History’s deadliest earthquake was recorded in 1556, in Shansi, China, where 830,000 perished. Where an earthquake-tsunami combination was involved, the greatest death toll since 1900 occurred on December 28, 1908, when a 7.2 magnitude struck Messina, Italy, killing upwards of 100,000.
The Krakatau mega tsunami, caused by a massive volcanic explosion, swept over the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, killing 36,000 on August 27, 1883.
“There is no scientific evidence (as far as I know) that the number of earthquakes per year is increasing, contrary to the claims of some Bible prophecy teachers who seem to be misinterpreting passages in the Olivet Discourse of Jesus such as Matthew 24:7. There is more instrumentation to record earthquakes around the world in place today compared to former times, of course. Increases in world population mean that the impact of earthquakes on people has become greater.” (Dr. Lambert Dolphin)
Dolphin’s article on “Earthquakes and the Bible” categorizes a major earthquake >7.0 on the Richter Magnitude scale. Since 1900 the earth has averaged some 18 major earthquakes per year. A great earthquake exceeds 8.0 on the Richter Magnitude scale—the earth averages one great earthquake in any given year.
Magnitude recordings commenced in 1899. The December 26, 2004 earthquake equaled the 1952 quake in Kamchatka, Russia. There have been three stronger quakes: May 22, 1906, in Chile (9.5); the 1964 quake in Prince William Sound in Alaska (9.2) and a March 9, 1957 quake on Andreanof Island, Alaska (9.1)—all three of those quakes along with the Kamchatka quake, created tsunamis.
A 7.5 magnitude quake occurred in Tangshan, China on July 27, 1976 killing upwards of 655,000 (official death count was 255,000).
Having said all of this, one might wonder if earthquakes are actually increasing in number judging from just a recent accounting!
BIBLICAL QUAKES
Today, 21 major conflicts assail the planet. The apocalyptic words of Jesus cannot go unheeded, although scoffers on the globe demean and deride any connection between His words and the proliferation of today’s wars and global quakes which continue to take on “Biblical Proportion:
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginning of sorrows. (our emphasis)
Luke 21:10-11 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Quakes in Scripture connote divine judgment, and/or major pronouncements of great significance. Genesis 8:1 indicates that “the fountains of the deep” released their waters. This undoubtedly demanded a “breaking up” and possible immense tidal action wrought by earthquakes during “the flood” of Noah.
Sodom and Gomorrah, at the Southeastern shores of the Dead Sea in 1900 BC (Genesis 19), according to archaeological research, indicates a great earthquake opened the rift zone, spewing forth “brimstone” (or “sulfur”)
“In the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel” (Amos 1:1) (between 760 BC to 749 BC) a possible magnitude between 7.0 and 8.0+ occurred.
I Kings 19:11 records an earthquake at Mt. Horeb about 300 miles south of Mt. Carmel in the Sinai wilderness . . . where Elijah had escaped Jezebel’s wrath.
The crossing of the Jordan and the collapse of the formidable walls of Jericho in 1400 BC were accompanied by earthquakes. The giving of the Law through Moses on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:16-18 was accompanied by a frightening earthquake.
NEW TESTAMENT EARTHQUAKES
The 7 Biblical Quakes of the New Testament
Is there a possible pattern of quakes in the New Testament? Could there be some such significant message or rendering of prophetical importance by following the given accounts of such quakes in these Scriptures? The Bible does not lend itself to some “secret code” which mandates that only those who can decipher such are worthy to discern its “hidden message.” To the contrary, the Scriptures present an aboveboard and plain recording embedded within the simple meaning of the text, yet entertaining appropriate symbolism along with “types and shadows.” This “Scriptural design” communicates spiritual and actual historical realities to the reader.
There is, however, a remarkable sequence of SEVEN EARTHQUAKES which occur in the New Testament. These quakes convey significant truth, both in actual and prophetic time. It is hard to believe that this is simply happenchance accounting. The “Seven Earthquakes” commence and end with the Messiah: His “cutting off” (i.e., “Crucifixion”) and His Second Advent. We (Dene McGriff and Doug Krieger—both of whom did this original research) would like to rivet your attention upon the significance and progression of these earthquakes; therefore, we have prepared the following outline, upon which we will elaborate in our second report on this subject— giving you some time to contemplate their meaning as well:
THE SEVEN “QUAKES”
1. CRUCIFIXION of Christ . . . Matthew 27:50-54
2. RESURRECTION of Christ. . . Matthew 28:2
3. CHURCH . . . Paul and Silas . . . Acts 16:11-40
4. BEGINNING OF SORROWS . . . Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11
Earthquakes in divers/various places
(Note: Included within these earthquakes is the Great Earthquake of the Gog/Magog War . . . Ezekiel 38:19-23 . . . At or near the commencement of the 70th Week of Daniel
Earthquake in Ezekiel 38:19 and 20
5. RAPTURE/RESURRECTION of the TWO WITNESSES
TERMINUS OF THE 70th Week of Daniel
(3 ½ Days, Revelation 11:11) and Earthquake in Rev. 11:13 (at the same hour) . . . earthquake vs. 13)
Judgment of the PEOPLE (“earth dwellers”)
(Note: Messenger is Christ as our Prophet (Rev. 10:1-11)
(Note: The 6th Seal “includes” the Seven Trumpets)
SECOND WOE (here) (sixth trumpet sounded) (Revelation 11:14a)
(Note: The “emphasis” of the earthquake in Revelation 11:13 is upon the Rapture/Resurrection and occurs immediately at the time of the earthquake in the 6th Seal) . . . this earthquake looks “back” to the rapture/resurrection.
6. DAY OF HIS WRATH/WRATH OF GOD/WRATH OF THE LAMB. . .
This earthquake looks forward to the judgment/wrath of the Lamb
The 6th Seal . . . Cosmic Disturbances and. . .
Revelation 6:12-17 (Isa. 2:19-21) . . .
Earthquake in Revelation 6:12
. . . 30 Days Beyond the 70th Week
(Note: All below speak of the same earthquake/event/occurrence)
a. JUDGMENT UPON THE EARTH
SEVENTH SEAL (Revelation 8:1)
Prelude to the Seven Trumpets: Revelation 8:1-6 . . . earthquake vs. 5
Note: Messenger is Christ as our High Priest (censor) . . .
Judgment of the EARTH
b. PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM & WRATH OF THE LAMB UPON THE “NATIONS” . . .
SEVENTH TRUMPET:
THIRD WOE (Revelation 11:14b)
“Your Wrath has Come”
Revelation 11:15-19 with vs. 19 including the Earthquake….. (Ark appears in the temple in heaven)
c. JUDGMENT UPON BABYLON
SEVEN BOWLS/VIALS (Revelation 16:17-21)
Earthquake in Revelation 16:18
7. SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST . . .
Zechariah 14:2-10; Hebrews 12:25-29; and Luke 21:26-27
Earthquake in vs. 26 of Hebrews 12.
Earthquakes
Part 2
THE SEVEN QUAKES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” Frederick Douglas
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be GREAT EARTHQUAKES in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven”
Jesus (Luke 21:10-12)
WHOSE VOICE THEN SHOOK THE EARTH . . .
The
“Great Earthquakes” . . . >8.0 on the Richter Magnitude Scale . . . are
clearly those which can cause incalculable destruction, and loss of life. As
of this reading, our original projection (approx. one week ago) of 150,000
dead from the 9.0 Sumatran/Indian Ocean “Big One” has been surpassed and,
according to UN projections, could now exceed our wildest prognostications;
perhaps, going as high as 200,000 and even more!
Instilled within Frederick Douglas’ expression was a “shaking” of the foundations of civilization . . . for no small stir could dislodge the chains of American slavery without the bombast of the storm! The social order demanded a sea change correction . . . no Missouri Compromise would do; no human arbitration and superficial manipulation would suffice.
The “situation” was irreconcilable . . . the “old order” was passing away; and it was violent, convulsive, merciless. When the shaking ceased, then the after shocks ensued for decades—the wineskin which held its captives by trafficking in the “bodies and souls of men” did not release them easily.
Earthquakes, and the tsunami waves that convulse and indiscriminately lambaste their adjoining shores, are the very same descriptions, literal and figuratively, that the Bible uses to announce those “spiritual convulsions” which gyrate generations and alter the destiny of humanity.
“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:25-29).
The “ULTIMATE BIG ONE” is coming! “Yet once more I shake not only earth, but also heaven . . . . the removal of those things that are being shaken . . . as of things that are made (the material universe), that the things which cannot be shaken (the spiritual) may remain.”
We affirm that the writer of Hebrews inferred the Second Coming of Messiah and the “kingdom which cannot be shaken.” This “shaking” will take place from whence the Olivet Discourse of Jesus was given whereof He spoke of these “Great earthquakes” as the disciples inquired: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).
QUAKE #7 . . . THE MESSIAH’S NEW WORLD ORDER . . . THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH SHAKEN
Although there are primarily seven clearly defined and chronologically revealed earthquakes recorded in the New Testament, it is the final one which has prophetical significance to us all. Listen . . . this; the final earthquake of the New Testament . . . will be the cataclysmic reconfiguration of the earth’s physical AND spiritual crust. It will be THE spiritually seismic convulsion of unparalleled magnitude that will catapult earthly civilizations into altogether new and breathtaking realms of cosmic reality . . . for:
“In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south . . . thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with Him . . . and in that day living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; in both summer and winter it shall occur, and the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—‘The Lord is one,’ and His name one.’” (Zechariah 14:4, 5b, 7-9)
Indeed, the “American New World Order System” . . . the “Old Order” and “Gentile World Power” will have passed . . . “‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:27); “Yet once more I shake not only earth, but also heaven, the sea and the dry land” (Haggai 2:6; Hebrews 12:26) (My emphasis).
The point to be made here is the “prophetical sphere” of the shaking: Heaven AND Earth. The distinction of these spheres is altogether connected with Bible prophecy . . . the Earth pertains to Israel’s sphere/emphasis (Cf. Hebrews 12:18-21); whereas the Heavens connote the Church’s perspective/emphasis (Cf. Hebrews 12:22-24).
The Church’s “calling” pertains to her “heavenly vision” and is clearly outlined in Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesian Christians; to wit:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Likewise, the Church’s standing is in the heavens:
“. . . and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6)
The book of Hebrews (12:25-27) emphasizes, however, not only the shaking in the heavens, but also on the earth (vs. 26). Indeed, this quaking and shaking has already impacted earth and heaven (i.e., Mount Sinai of Moses, the Law; and the heavenly Mount Zion, the Church); YET ONCE MORE they shall be shaken until the Church in fullness receives a kingdom which cannot be shaken; and Israel in covenantal fulfillment of Zechariah shall “in that day . . . living waters . . . flow from Jerusalem . . . and the Lord shall be King over all the earth . . . and it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain” (Zechariah 14:8a, 9a, 16-17).
This then is the seventh earthquake, the last of the New Testament which will be the final declaration, and the commencement of Messiah’s Kingdom on earth.
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27).
The Messiah is coming . . . scoffers and false christs notwithstanding! The final shaking in the heavens AND the earth will echo with perplexity and distress as the sea and the waves roar . . . “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
It is precisely at this time when these cosmic disturbances afflict the planet, at the time of the Sixth Seal of the Revelation, that Jesus plainly states:
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28) . . . but we will go into more detail about this separate and distinct quake having to do with “redemption” PRIOR to what shall befall “the earth dwellers” on that day of the Sixth Seal of the Revelation. Suffice it to say, the coming of the Son of Man, is the final and seventh earthquake of the New Testament.
QUAKE #1 . . . THE CRUCIFIXION & DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split . . . so when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:50, 54).
This is the first mentioning in the New Testament of an earthquake. The “Cross of Christ” . . . the Crucifixion . . . His death and ultimate burial signals the Messiah Who has been “cut off” . . . “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off” (i.e., “suffer the death penalty”) (Daniel 9:26).
The eschatological occurrence of Messiah’s cutting off was prophesied clearly by Daniel and its timing . . . its precise chronological ordering . . . is perhaps one of the most overt authentications of the Bible’s inspiration. Specifically, Daniel records the following sequence of events that would take place “for your people” (i.e. the Israelites, the Jews):
“[24] Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. [26] And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. [27] Then he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:24-27).
These chronological renditions are perhaps the most contested accountings in the entire Bible! Yet, there is little doubt that the scoffer and skeptic, AND (unfortunately) the alleged Biblical scholar, despises and/or is befuddled at their substance and deliberate manner, for Daniel alone demands an absolute validation of Holy Writ, unmistakably precise beyond our wildest discoveries. For if Daniel be true, then, as Paul states: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent’” (I Corinthians 1:18-19).
What Daniel had in fact projected was the precise day in which Messiah the Prince (Christ) would enter Jerusalem, riding upon a donkey, and being presented and proclaimed by the masses of Israel as “her King cometh unto thee” (Zechariah 9:9) . . . “the Prince of Life” (Acts 3:15). I strongly urge you to confirm the authenticity of the Scriptures researching the indisputable works of Sir Robert Anderson, former head of Scotland Yard under Queen Victoria in our “Book Archives” (in particular Sir Anderson’s Chapters VII, VIII, X). Here, you will discover that four days after the fulfillment of the 7 + 62 Weeks (or 69 Week/Year/Days or 483 Years/360-day prophetic years or from 1st Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes (the edict to rebuild the city of Jerusalem) was precisely the 14th of March, B. C. 445 and that Messiah the Prince (Daniel 9:25) entered into Jerusalem on 10th Nisan on the of April, A. D. 32).
Sir Anderson’s calculations are impeccable: “The intervening period was 476 years and 24 days (the days being reckoned inclusively, as required by the language of the prophecy, and in accordance with the Jewish practice). But 476 x 365 = 173,740 days; add (14 March to 6th April, both inclusive) 24 days; add for leap years 116 days; equals a total of 173,880 days; and 69 weeks of prophetic years of 360 days (or 69 x 7 x 360) 173,880 days.) (The Coming Prince, Sir Robert Anderson, Chapter 10 Footnote [7]).
Anderson’s precision is akin to a “Crime Scene Investigation” of the first order—silencing the so-called higher biblical critics, as well as extinguishing the miscalculations of other Bible chronologists (e.g., Haley’s Bible Handbook “historical” calculations). Historians of antiquity substantiate Sir Anderson’s conclusions and utterly validate the faith . . . for it was within FOUR DAYS after “Unto Messiah the Prince” (i.e., four days after Jesus’ “Triumphal entry into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, 10th Nisan, April, A.D. 32). In sum, the cutting off of Messiah occurred precisely four days after the terminus of the 69th Week of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Sir Anderson unequivocally proved that “Unto Messiah the Prince” occurred at the conclusion of Jesus’ ministry and NOT at the commencement of His ministry (i.e., at His Baptism by John the Baptist). Therefore, the entire 70th Week of Daniel . . . the final SEVEN YEARS are yet future, commencing with “another prince” . . . and it is he who is the Antichrist who shall “confirm a covenant with many for one week (i.e., the final week of Daniel’s prophecy; the 70th Week); but in the middle of the week he (i.e., Antichrist or “the prince who is to come” of Daniel 9:26) shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate (Antichrist/the Beast), even unto the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).
Christians who twist the Scriptures to fit their own proclivities and assume that Daniel’s 70th Week is already past or that the first 3 ½ years have concluded, have the erroneous distinction of commencing their chronologies from an inaccurate base, throwing off both their eschatological conclusions and disparaging their convoluted hermeneutics. Furthermore, what belies their insistence in opposition to the futurity of Daniel’s 70th Week normally lies in a “disguised spiritual agenda” that precludes Israel’s place in the prophetic timetable and ultimately manifests a distorted form of Triumphal Christianity. For many who insist that the chronologies of antiquity bear little relevance upon their faith or disbelief . . . let me disabuse them of their faulty conjectures; for it has much to do with their disbeliefs and meaningless meanderings.
Conversely, scoffers and skeptics would just as soon as distinguish themselves by altogether disregarding ANY basis for confronting the crucifixion of Christ—especially if its prophetic accuracies intrude upon their agnostic or atheistic presuppositions. God forbid their “scientific observation methodologies” be turned upon them to disprove their own vacuous reasonings for scoffing in the first place!
QUAKE #2 . . . THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it . . . He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:2, 6a).
To be continued…