Theology of Earthquakes

I was going over this with my kids the other night so it is relatively fresh in my mind….

Earthquakes when they show up in the Bible are designed principally as a judgement. Judgement being, according to the Hebrew word Mishphat, means to root and up root. To rip up one position and plant another.

When earthquakes show up in the Bible they are uprooting one position and planting another. A classic example is when the Lord sends an earthquake* during a battle and discomfits the enemy and roots the Israelites in victory.

The Mountain of Mount Sinai quaked and smoked. The assurance of other gods was being shredded to pieces and the new system of righteousness was being planted with the Laws of God.

When the earth quaked when Christ died on the Cross, and the curtain between the Holy of Holies was rent in two, God was displacing the Jewish system and replacing with the Messianic/Christolic system.

When the earth quaked and Paul and Silas were set free from prison, Christianity as a system was shaking the assurance of the whole jail. They were singing and praising God and suddenly an earthquake rent the whole jail to pieces. That day the jailer and his family were baptized and became part of the kingdom of God.

When Wycliffe was before the interrogating Catholic council and was about to be pronounced to be burnt at the stake, God sent an earthquake and shook the whole assembly. The council fled the building and John Wycliff was acquitted and set free.

Earthquakes are designed to shake the false systems of thought and idolatry, and provide a path for the righteous to walk through.

Just as the walls of Jericho fell, it has been determined by John Garstang, that the walls fell outward in an earthquake. Even close inspection of the ruins reveals that the foundations became top heavy and fell over. This phenomenon is the result of Liquifaction, a condition where the soil becomes like liquid due to severe shaking during an earthquake.

John Garstang (1876-1956, The Story of Jericho)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Garstang

Another site on Jericho:

http://www.varchive.org/ce/jericho.htm

Proof Texts:

Hag 2:6 For thus saith 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;

Hag 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.


Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

In the text below from Samuel, the Lord sent them a GREAT Thunder. Thunders shake the earth much like earthquakes.

1Sa 7:10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

You may wonder what that has to do with you and me?

The Christian should be encouraged when he ponders the God of Scripture and realize that God is by you and with you in your walk in the earth.

It may seem that the walk is perilous.

It may seem that the Giants are just too big.

It may seem that the evil in the world is just too overwhelming. But, God promises to stand by those who stand by him: I will not leave you or forsake you.

The Theology of Earthquakes should encourage us that God is shaking the nations. He is shaking their assurance system. He is shaking them to winnow out the good from the bad.

Despite ourselves, God will show his glory in the Earth, using His church as the principle agent, or means of accomplishment. Those who stand for Righteousness (An upright, holy and just civilization and desire to implement this in this earth), God will stand by them, and shake the nations into conformity.

Have a blessed day, and remember, Christ is the King of the Nations, and the desire of all nations shall come to Him.