Each new earthquake warning us that our salvation "is close to the doors"
( Matthew 24:33). Are we ready for the big day end?
"Suddenly all the houses were in ruins, it seemed the end of the world , said a villager of Jabla in Cacherima, that was saved from devastating earthquake (7.6 on the Richter scale) that struck Pakistan and surrounding regions on 8 October 2005.1
In recent months, alarming we have seen a succession of natural disasters of great destructive power that have left a toll of thousands of deaths and extensive damage. Suffice it to recall, for example, the earthquake combined with tsunami that caused 283,106 killed on December 26, 2004 in Southeast Asia.
According to the Bible, what relationship they have earthquakes in end times?
Earthquakes in the history of salvation
Facts highlights of the plan of salvation were accompanied by manifestations in nature, particularly earthquakes. When Christ died on the cross, "the earth shook and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:51). At dawn on Sunday, again "was a great earthquake" , this time associated with the resurrection of the Savior (Matthew 28:2).
Similarly, an earthquake accompanied the completion of the intercession of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary (Revelation 8:5, 11:19). Soon after, the final outcome of the great conflict in this world will be marked by "a great earthquake, so great an earthquake, which had not occurred since men were upon the earth" (Revelation 16:18 ). No catastrophe ever reported the seizure can be compared to the whole earth will experience when I go down the King of kings and Lord of lords. The description of Ellen White is very vivid:
"is at midnight that God manifests His power to deliver his people. [...] The whole nature seems upset. The rivers do not run. [...] Amid moved there is a clear sky of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters saying: 'It is done. " That voice shakes the heavens and the earth. It follows a major earthquake, "as was not since men were upon the earth '. [...] The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks spread everywhere. You hear a noise like nearby storm. The sea is lashed into fury. [...] The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves. Its surface is breaking. Its very foundations seem to be pandering. Sink ranges. Inhabited islands disappear. The seaports become like Sodom for wickedness are swallowed by the raging waves ". 2
The earthquake in Pakistan, which I mentioned at first seems inconsequential in this description of the true end of the world. But do they have any meaning earthquakes today?
Earthquakes as signs of the end
The Bible announced that after the religious persecution of the Middle Ages there would be a major earthquake and heavenly signs that would announce the proximity of end. "I looked when He opened the sixth seal" , wrote the apostle John, "and here was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth and the moon became as blood" (Revelation 6:12). According to most interpreters, this prophecy was fulfilled in the Lisbon earthquake of 1 November 1755 . Reached a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale and an unusual extent, because its effects were felt in much of Europe, North Africa to the Caribbean. The earthquake combined with a tidal wave left a toll of 70,000 dead. Until today, is among the most destructive earthquakes history.3
the Jesus also said in his sermon earthquakes prophetic. The disciples asked him what would signal the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming (Matthew 24:3). In reply, Christ referred to both events without distinguishing between them. If he had disclosed all future events would not have been able to bear the sight. Despite this ambiguity, in the first part (verses 4-20), the Lord presented the facts before the destruction of Jerusalem, then moving to their signals Second Coming (verses 21-42).
The familiar words of Jesus: "There will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places" (Matthew 24:7) are in the first part of the speech. Concern in the first instance, to natural calamities that occurred between the death of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 DC4 "There was a series of strong earthquakes from the year 31 and year 70. The worst occurred in Crete (46 or 47), Rome (51), Phrygia (60) and Campania (63). Tacitus (Annals xvi. 10 - 13) also mentioned strong hurricanes and storms in 65 '.5
Is it right, then, to quote this text to prove that earthquakes and other natural disasters are signs of early return Christ?
Yes, because the words of Christ have a broad sense. "The ruin of Jerusalem would be a symbol of the ruin that overwhelmed the world final. The prophecies were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, apply most directly to the final days. " 6
God does not produce these calamities. They are the work of the enemy. "He will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Now he is at work. Exercises its power in all places and in a thousand ways: in the misfortunes and calamities by sea and land, in great conflagrations, in the terrible hurricanes and in the terrible storm of hail, on floods, cyclones, tidal waves and earthquakes extraordinary. " 7
Each new earthquake warning us that our salvation "is close to the doors" (Matthew 24:33). Are we ready for the big day end?
Source: Adventist Review / Editorial, May 2006. Author: Dr. Carlos A. Steger, newly appointed dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University Adventista del Plata (Argentina) director of the Latin American Service Headquarters Theology (SALT). Served as director of the Adventist Review .
Editor's Note: this article was written in 2006, maintaining an almost perfect life: just you change the geographic location of the earthquake mentioned by the latter.
References: a newspaper Clarin (Buenos Aires), October 10, 2005, p. 22.
2 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Buenos Aires: ACES, 1993), pp. 694, 695.
3 View http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/eqsmosde.html. See also C. Mervyn Maxwell, Revelation, his revelations (Buenos Aires: ACES, 1991), pp. 194-196.
4 White, The Desire of Ages (Buenos Aires: ACES, 1987), pp. 582, 583.
Bible Commentary 5 SDA (Buenos Aires: ACES, 1995), t. 5, p. 486.
6 White, The Mount of Blessing (Buenos Aires: ACES, 1997), p. 102.
7 The Great Controversy, p. 647.
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