"For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase and set on fire the foundations of the mountains" – Deut.32:22.
THE
EARTHQUAKES AND TIME
[This evangelistic message, which has been revised, was first published in a local Christian magazine in May-June 1971.]Bible Prophecy: "...there shall be EARTHQUAKES in divers places " – Mark 13:8 On February 4, 1971, there was an earth tremor in a few areas in the island of Singapore. Earthquake was a rare phenomenon in this nation. The tremor was a frightening experience for a few thousand people. But for those who live on or around the Earthquake Belts, the next earthquake could spell death for thousands of them.
THE SEVERITY OF EARTHQUAKES Since the beginning of the history of mankind, earthquakes have claimed countless lives. In this 20th Century, earthquakes have snuffed out more lives than any other natural catastrophe known to man. Earthquakes are becoming more and more frequent each year and with increasing severity. Some of them were known to have killed as many as 70,000 people as did the earthquake in Lima, Peru in May 31, 1970. Some 80,000 people out of the population of 13 million in the country were made homeless. Almost all the buildings in Chimbote, the second largest seaport of Peru, were demolished. The mountain city of Yungay provided evidence of the full fury of the quake. It was literally erased from the map. The death toll was great; more than 80% of the lives of its people were wiped out by the quake. The damages were estimated at three-quarter of a billion dollars. That was the worst and deadliest earthquake that ever hit Latin America.
THE ENDTIME PROPHETIC PATTERN Jesus said that in the last days there would be earthquakes in various places. He predicted that earthquakes would become a common phenomenon of endtime happenings. It would be a signboard. (Do not doubt this, even though we have always had earthquakes.) He said, "there will be mighty and violent earthquake... " (Lk.21:11 Amp.N.T.). Jesus Christ said this because He knew that as TIME marched on there would be a continuation of mighty and violent EARTHQUAKES. Naturally, being the Creator of this earth (cf.Jhn.1:1-3), He understood the geological formation of the earth's structure. It was told in His Word that He has set the bowels of the earth on fire.
"For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase and set on fire the foundations of the mountains" – Deut.32:22.
Due to
this continual burning deep inside the earth, the weakened rock formations are
constantly shifting their positions resulting in a higher incidence of
earthquake on the top-side of the earth as TIME marches on.
THE
INCREASE OF ANNIHILATIVE EARTHQUAKES
Yes, throughout the world earthquakes are increasing in frequency and severity annually. One of the most notable phenomena in the past few hundred years was the general increase in destructive earthquakes as shown by the following statistics:
16th Century...253 (2 major earthquakes)
17th Century...378 (2 major earthquakes)
18th Century...640 (5 major earthquakes)
19th Century...2119 (9 major earthquakes)
The worst earthquake disaster ever to strike this earth was in 1556, at Shensi, China, when 830,000 people lost their lives.
Man has often strived to prevent this holocaust but without success.
The worst earthquake disaster ever to strike this earth was in 1556, at Shensi, China, when 830,000 people lost their lives. Man has often strived to prevent this holocaust but without success.
The 20th Century alone saw the greatest number of earthquakes rocking the earth. There were some 91,000 of them (ranging from a magnitude of 0.3 to 6.99 on the Richter Scale) and 198 major earthquakes (of 7.00 to 9.99). More than two million people have died as a result of earthquakes and their attendant floods, fire and famines. A few of the worst earthquakes to have struck the earth resulting in a serious death toll during the 20th Century are as follows:
1901 -- Martinque, West Indies: city of St. Pierre was wiped out. 40,000 dead.
1908 -- Messina, Sicily: the city was totally destroyed. 75,000-85,000 dead.
1920 -- Kansu, China: 100,000-180,000 dead.
1923 -- Japan: Yokohama was completely destroyed and almosthalf of Tokyo was destroyed. 90,000 persons laid dying. Damages to properties estimated at approximately $7,200 million.
1935 -- Quetta, India: 50,000 dead.
1939 -- Chile: 30,000 dead.
1939 -- Northern Turkey: severe quakes destroyed city of Erzingan; about 100,000 casualties.
1950 -- India: about 25,000 dead.
1960 -- Agadir, Morocco: earthquakes with tidal waves and fire destroyed 80% of city. 12,000 dead.
1962 -- Iran: most destructive earthquake in Iran's history killedmore than 12,000 persons.
1966 -- Tashkent, U.S.S.R.: 20% of buildings were destroyed. 200,000 homeless.
1968 -- Iran: about 11,600 dead.
1970 -- Peru: Chimbote badly destroyed with 80,000 homeless and nearly 70,000 dead.
1976 -- Mexico: 23,000 dead.
1976 -- North China: about 240,000 dead
1978 -- Iran: 15,000 dead.
1985 -- Mexico: 7,000 dead.
1987 -- Ecuador: 300 dead; 4,000 missing.
1988 -- Armenia of the U.S.S.R.: about 25,000 dead.
1990 Northern Iran: 50,000
1995 Japan: 5,500
1998 Afganistan: 5,000
1998 Japan: 5,000
1999 Turkey: 15,000
2001 India: 20,023
2002 Afghanistan: 1,000
THE TIME
Most of the earthquakes have been confined to two main zones. One zone runs from New Zealand up through the Philippines and Japan to Alaska then down the Pacific coast of the Americas. The other zone stretches from Morocco through Greece and Iran along the Indian side of the Himalayas and south to Java. However, the TIME has come when EARTHQUAKES can happen in any place at any time. It need not necessarily be confined to the fiery rings. A major earthquake may happen one day in Singapore and the next in Malaysia.
Man
cannot predict earthquakes. Scientists with their seismographs can detect the
oncoming earthquakes, but science is powerless to completely stop the
destructive movements of terrestrial convulsions.
THE
CONSUMING FIRE
EARTHQUAKES are ringing out the message that God is still on His Throne. He is the Creator of the Heaven and the earth, and He is still the Ruler of His creation.
The fire, which God originally set ablaze in the lower regions of the earth because of His anger towards the rebellious fallen angels and the sins of mankind, is still constantly eating away at the mountains' foundations. And it is recorded in the Bible that the TIME will come when the foundations of the mountains will be so much weakened that gigantic portions of the earth's crust will break off and slip into the seas and oceans. This is an earthquake the like of which the world has never seen since the beginning of TIME.
"...and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great and the cities of the nations fell: And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found" – Rev.16:18-20.
This future catastrophe will take place just prior to the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. The King of kings and Lord of lords will return to this earth to establish His reign of righteousness, but He will not build upon anything that man has previously erected. So all of man's creations must come down — come tumbling down through this great mighty earthquake!
Yes, the
fire that was kindled in God's anger shall consume the earth. Not only will
man's creations be ruined, but every island, breaking loose from the earth's
surface, will slip into the sea and flee away, and the mountains, toppling
over, will not be found.
THE
HERALD OF GOD'S REVELATION
My friend, can you comprehend all these? This may sound fantastic. But
whatever the Bible says, it will come to pass. Not even a single prophecy of
God has failed or will fail. The earthquake will take place, and is the
instant herald of His Revelation — the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Battle of
Armageddon. Yet, before this last and great
earthquake takes place, every truly born again Christian who loves
the One and only Saviour, Jesus Christ, and is prepared according to the Holy
Word will be caught up in the Rapture (1
Thess.4:16-17). They will escape this great universal chaos, even the wrath of
God which will be poured out upon the world!
THE
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Jesus Christ has given us many signs of this endtime through His disciples. He rebuked the Pharisees and the Sadducees for not being able to discern the signs of their TIMES.
"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would show them a sign from Heaven. He answered and said unto them, when it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the Signs of the times?" – Matt.16:1-3.
Jesus Christ was exhorting us to discern the Signs of the TIMES. The increase in the number of EARTHQUAKES is one of those signs! And inevitably with it comes the beginning of sorrows.
"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" – Mk.13:8.
The increasing extent and intensity of earthquakes are becoming a major source of worry and widespread havoc to the people in these days of uncertainties. This is confirmed by the fact that almost every issue of the daily newspapers contains reports on earthquakes. And the number of earthquakes continues to increase!
[Note:
In a night vision, about 8 years ago, I saw myself standing on the Esplanade
looking out at the sea towards the east. All of a sudden, a tidal wave rushed
towards the land and splashed against the embankment. I knew some catastrophe
had hit the earth. A few seconds later, another wave appeared. This was a
bigger one. I knew that it would hit me if I did not get out of that place
immediately. As the tidal wave came, I ran in the opposite direction across a
large field towards the Supreme Court building. The wave smashed onto the
Esplanade and the large field. While running up the steps of this great
building, towards the entrance, another even bigger wave came. I barely made
it in time to the last step to grasp one of the large pillars of the building
for support when the wave slammed onto me. When I woke up from this dream, the
prophecy of Bro. William Branham concerning the sinking of California
immediately struck my mind. Such an event is definitely associated with
violent volcanic quakes under the ocean. Hence, tsunamis are inevitable. And
California's "big one" has been long over due.]
THE
LAST HOURS OF GRACE
We are living in the days of the beginning of sorrows — the days that are before the end of the age. These are the Last Days of civilization!
We are living in the last hours of grace. The Church Age of 2,000 years is almost finished. The Creator came twenty centuries ago and willingly laid down His Life on the Old Rugged Cross to redeem man from their sins. And since that TIME, countless EARTHQUAKES have claimed the lives of millions of people unawares. Many perished without Christ in their lives. And friend, "except you repent you shall likewise perish". Today is the day of Salvation! Unsaved friend, will you accept the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved today? Do it now!
What
about my Christian friend? Are you a Gospel witness, as Christ was, going
about doing good and warning people of the coming judgement of God? Or has
your spiritual life remained stagnant? Just take a moment and think seriously "How
shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation?" (Heb.2:3).
THE
MIDNIGHT CRY
The culminating clouds of Bible Prophecies are flashing one of its signs of the times — the increase in the number of earthquakes! Truly, EARTHQUAKES are on the Increase with TIME, and they are marching on to The Midnight Cry — on to The Battle of Armageddon!
INDEX
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FOREWARD:
FROM THE PREACHER'S DESK
SECTION
III: CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- WHO
WILL WIN THE WAR
