April 8, 2016 - A. V. Rauf

“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On!” (UPDATED!)

Luke 21:11: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

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 beginnings of sorrows.

So far in the year 2016, We had five major quakes in the whole month of March and now we have had seven in the first seven days of the month of April.

If last week was all about global volcanic activity well this week is about major quakes: Just one week into the month of April there has been an uptick in seismic activity.

April had it’s first major quake….A mag 6.0 – near the South Coast of western Honshu, Japan. A magnitude 6.1 – 120km NE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea was the second major quake of April. The third major quake of April was a magnitude 6.0 – 100km NNE of Chignik Lake, Alaska.

A magnitude 6.3 – 65km SSE of Atka, Alaska was only the second major quake of March 2016. A magnitude 6.0 – 76km S of Atka, Alaska was the third major quake of March. A magnitude 6.0 – 124km ENE of Codrington, Barbuda wass the 4th major quake of March. A magnitude 6.4 – 211km S of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia wass the 5th major quake of March
Furthermore, the following has occurred within the last 48 hours alone:

6.7 magnitude earthquake hits near Sola, Vanuatu
6.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Bunisari, Indonesia
5.7 magnitude earthquake hits near Saumlaki, Indonesia
5.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Illapel, Chile
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Sarangani, Philippines
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Dadali, Solomon Islands
5.3 magnitude earthquake hits near Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands
5.2 magnitude earthquake hits near Irapa, Venezuela
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Ndoi Island, Fiji
4.5 magnitude earthquake felt in Afghanistan
4.0 earthquake in northern Oklahoma rattles Wichita
Sangay volcano in Ecuador erupts to 25,000 ft.
Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 25,000 ft.
Colima volcano in Mexico erupts to 20,000 ft.
Colima volcano in Mexico erupts to 19,000ft.
Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts to 19,000 ft.
Sakurajima volcano in Japan erupts to 15,000 ft.
Singabung volcano in Indonesia erupts to 13,000 ft.
Langila volcano in Papua New Guinea erupts to 10,000 ft.
Tenggar Caldera volcano in Indonesia erupts to 10,000 ft.

Here in the United States, people are closely watching the supervolcano that sits under Yellowstone national park. In recent years the ground in Yellowstone has been rising, and many observers are gravely concerned that we very well may be witnessing the lead up to a full-blown eruption. Furthermore, in the state of Oklahoma, in 2016, as of today, Oklahoma has had a total of 994 earthquakes; minor tremors but quakes nonetheless (Madrid Fault anyone?)

Why are earthquakes and volcanic activity on the rise? The Bible speaks of “earthquakes in various places” at the end of the age.

During the 20th century, there were a total of 3,542 volcanic eruptions globally. That equates to approximately 35 eruptions per year. That may sound like a lot, but according to Volcano Discovery, last year there were 36 volcanoes erupting around the world simultaneously only 4 months into the year 2015. This year we may exceed the total of volcanic eruptions compared top last year.

All over the planet, volcanoes that have long been dormant are beginning to wake up, and scientists are being baffled by this phenomenon. And right now, some of the biggest volcanoes in the world are starting to wake up. The world’s most dangerous active volcanoes include Yellowstone, Mount Vesuvius in Campagnia, Italy, and Popocatépetl near Mexico City.

I believe that the Early Church and the Church in the last days will have many characteristics in common. In Matthew 24, Jesus stated the Gospel of the Kingdom would be preached unto all nations as a witness just like the Apostles took the Gospel throughout the known world which in that time was mainly the Roman Empire in constituency. There was an uptick in seismic and volcanic activity and this same phenomenon will be recapitulated prior to return of the LORD.

Timing is everything. That being said, I am convinced that is this is all in conjunction with the nearness of the Return of the LORD and a prelude to the coming SEAL/TRUMPET/BOWL judgments as listed in the Book of Revelation.

In addition, in Matthew 24, Christ told His disciples of the signs that would precede His Second Coming. In verse 7, He stated, “and there shall be…earthquakes, in diverse places.”

This meant earthquakes would take place in various places—scattered throughout the world—and would increase in frequency as the time of His Return drew near. Let me also add that not only can the earth tremble and quake at God’s presence, but volcanoes erupt as well:

Nahum 1:5—The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Had earthquakes been as prolific throughout history as they are today, then they would not indicate that the end of the age was near. They are much more common now than at any other time in the history of the world.

An earthquake played a prominent role at Jesus’ Crucifixion:

Matthew 27:50-54—Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

In similar fashion yet another earthquake took place at the resurrection of Jesus Christ 3 days later:

Matthew 28:1-6—In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

I wonder if the Rapture of the church will be accompanied by what pretty much amounts to be a series of global earthquakes as the “dead in Christ,” many of whom are underground buried, will rise first. Interesting speculation Indeed!!!!

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17—For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Interestingly enough, a major earthquake will accompany the very return of the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming:

Zechariah 14:4-9—-Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

The book of Revelation foretells five specific powerful earthquakes preceding and surrounding Christ’s Return. Each is unique, and occurs at a particular juncture of God’s final prophetic timeline.

In the Old Testament, many of God’s prophets spoke about these earthquakes, especially the final, greatest one preceding Christ’s Return.

Isaiah 13:13: “I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.”

Isaiah 24:19-20: “The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage…”

Ezekiel 38:20: “…all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.”

Joel 3:16: “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake …”

Haggai 2:6-7: “For thus says the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations [Jesus Christ] shall come…”

God very soon will involve Himself in the affairs of this world in a way He has never done before. Earthquakes and volcanoes will play a major role in what is coming…………….

Romans 8:19-23—For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

1 John 3:1-3—1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

As fearful and destructive as they may appear to be, God in his infinite wisdom and sovereignty will use earthquakes to reshape the earth’s surface, in preparation for the greatest time of peace and abundance that mankind has ever experienced.

This indeed is a time that the whole world can truly look forward to. And it is coming very soon! The shaking has already begun.

Bible Prophecy