EARTHQUAKES & THE END TIMES - According to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are signs like labor pains – He cited a number of signs to look for. Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present. He wasn't saying their appearance alone will signal His return. Instead, He said to look for them in a distinct pattern. He said they would arrive like "birth pains." Birth pains, or labor contractions, are sharp pains. They increase in both frequency and intensity right before birth. The signs Jesus mentioned will appear with greater frequency and intensity right before His return. The other signs Jesus said to look for are also increasing in frequency and intensity - the appearance of famines, wars, and false messiahs. These things are happening. The signs are clear. Jesus is coming! When Jesus was asked what would signal His return and the end of the age, He said to look for a number of signs. One of those signs was the appearance of earthquakes. But what does that mean? After all, earthquakes have been a part of human life since Adam and Eve. They aren't rare. Earthquakes have been a part of life since the beginning of human civilization. So, if we've always had earthquakes, how can they possibly be a sign of the Second Coming? That's a great question. Fortunately, Jesus gave us the answer. Earthquakes in general are NOT a sign of His return. But according to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are... signs like labor pains - Jesus cited a number of signs to look for. Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present.

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Earthquakes & The End Times

..

According to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are signs like labor pains – He cited a number of signs to look for. Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present. He wasn't saying their appearance alone will signal His return. Instead, He said to look for them in a distinct pattern. He said they would arrive like "birth pains." Birth pains, or labor contractions, are sharp pains. They increase in both frequency and intensity right before birth. The signs Jesus mentioned will appear with greater frequency and intensity right before His return. The other signs Jesus said to look for are also increasing in frequency and intensity - the appearance of famines, wars, and false messiahs. These things are happening. The signs are clear. Jesus is coming!

BY BRITT GILLETTE

ENDTIMESBIBLEPROPHECY

 

When Jesus was asked what would signal His return and the end of the age, He said to look for a number of signs.

One of those signs was the appearance of earthquakes (Matthew 24:7).

But what does that mean?

After all, earthquakes have been a part of human life since Adam and Eve. They aren't rare.

The Bible says they appeared in the days of Amos (Amos 1:1) and King Saul (1 Samuel 14:15).

They appeared in the days of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:26).

And non-biblical history tells us earthquakes shook ancient China, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, and other nations.

In 1906, a devastating earthquake hit San Francisco. It toppled almost every building in the city and killed over 3,000 people.

In short, earthquakes have been a part of life since the beginning of human civilization.

So, if we've always had earthquakes, how can they possibly be a sign of the Second Coming?

That's a great question.

Fortunately, Jesus gave us the answer.

Earthquakes in general are NOT a sign of His return.

But according to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are...

Signs Like Labor Pains

Jesus cited a number of signs to look for.

Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present.

So, He wasn't saying their appearance alone will signal His return. Instead, He said to look for them in a distinct pattern.

He said they would arrive like "birth pains."

But what does this mean? What could these general signs possibly have in common with birth pains?

Only this - birth pains, or labor contractions, are sharp pains.

They increase in both frequency and intensity right before birth.

In other words, the signs Jesus mentioned will appear with greater frequency and intensity right before His return.

Looking for the Pattern

This means earthquakes (or even what seems to be a numerical increase in the number of earthquakes) are NOT a sign of the Second Coming.

Instead, Jesus said to look for an increase in the frequency of large earthquakes.

Such an increase will fit the pattern Jesus described - a pattern of more frequent intense events rising toward a climax.

So how do we measure an increase in the frequency and intensity of earthquakes?

We don't have accurate data going back to the beginning of time. We don't even have accurate data going back to the time of Jesus.

After all, advanced instruments for detecting and measuring earthquakes are relatively new.

The Richter Scale didn't even exist until 1935, and most seismographs at the time failed to detect any earthquakes under a magnitude of about 3.0.

But today?

Today's devices routinely measure earthquakes with negative magnitudes. Because of this, looking only at the frequency of earthquakes is meaningless.

Obviously, with better instruments, we can detect smaller earthquakes. But that doesn't mean more earthquakes are occurring. It just means for the first time we're able to measure them.

But let's take a different point of view. What if we look only at modern data from the last one hundred years? And what if we look only at earthquakes registering a magnitude of 8.0 or greater? This will give us a much more accurate picture.

Why? Because most instrumentation from that time period could detect an earthquake of such enormity.

This eliminates all the small quakes detected in more recent times.

And even though the sample size is still small (only about 120 years), it should give us enough data to spot a recent trend.

If these are the times Jesus told us to look for, we should expect to see an increase in the frequency (number) and intensity (magnitude) of earthquakes.

Is this what we see today? Yes. It is.

The Increasing Frequency of High Intensity Earthquakes

According to the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) composite catalog, recent years have seen a marked increase in the number of earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.0 or greater:

1900's - 3 earthquakes

1910's - 0 earthquakes

1920's - 1 earthquake

1930's - 1 earthquake

1940's - 1 earthquake

1950's - 1 earthquake

1960's - 3 earthquakes

1970's - 2 earthquakes

1980's - 3 earthquakes

1990's - 7 earthquakes

2000's - 13 earthquakes

2010's - 8 earthquakes so far

The 20th Century witnessed 22 earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.0 or greater, but already the 21st Century has seen 21 such earthquakes.

If that pace continues, we'll see 116 earthquakes of 8.0 magnitude or greater by the end of this century!

In 2014, I cited this same data in my book Signs of the Second Coming.

While writing the book, my original draft showed six earthquakes for this decade. I had to revise the book before publication because of another 8.0 earthquake in April 2014.

After the book was published, another earthquake struck in September 2015. And during that same time, we've had three other earthquakes later revised to 7.9.

Is it possible this is just a coincidence? Sure. We've only had the tools to measure earthquakes for a small portion of human history.

It's possible we're looking at a small sample size and drawing an incorrect conclusion.

Perhaps these earthquake patterns have appeared before.

Some might argue we've only recently had the instrumentation to measure all 8.0 magnitude earthquakes - that such technology didn't exist in the early 20th Century.

I find that hard to believe. But even if that's true, we've nevertheless seen a notable increase since that time.

Jesus Is Coming

Absent any other signs, the rise in earthquakes would be nothing more than a footnote of history.

But earthquakes aren't the only signs. They aren't the only events increasing in frequency and intensity.

The other signs Jesus said to look for are also increasing in frequency and intensity - the appearance of famines, wars, and false messiahs.

And even those aren't the only signs.

Travel and knowledge have increased significantly (Daniel 12:4)...

Israel is a nation again (Jeremiah 23:7-8)...

The Jewish people control Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)...

The Gog of Magog alliance is forming (Ezekiel 38-39)...

The Gospel is being preached to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14)...

Sin is everywhere, and the love of many has grown cold (Matthew 24:12)...

These are all signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for. And our generation is the first ever to witness these signs.

Still think this is mere coincidence? I don't either.

Jesus Himself said, "When all these things begin to happen, look up for your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28).

These things are happening.

And Jesus said the generation witnessing them will not pass away before He returns (Matthew 24:34).

The signs are clear. Jesus is coming!

So, don't waste any opportunity to share the Good News.

Britt Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as well as the books Signs of the Second Coming and Racing Toward Armageddon.

http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2091

You might also like:

Natural Disasters Caused by Earthquakes

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2020/11/natural-disasters-caused-by-earthquakes.html

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Earthquake Intensities

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2019/03/earthquake-intensities-measurements.html

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Constructive Earthquakes

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2019/05/constructive-earthquakes-earthquakes.html

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Earthquake Aftershocks

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2019/06/earthquake-aftershocks-definition-that.html

..................................................................................................................................................................................................

Earthquakes

When Nature Strikes

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . . 

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2020/08/earthquakes-when-nature-strikes-most.html

 

 

 

IS CORONAVIRUS A DIVINE JUDGMENT OR A CALL TO FAITH? - No matter if this is a natural plague or one sent by God, whether it is a call to believer or sinner, it reminds us why we are here and what our priorities should be - thus, it is truly a lifesaver for those who will believe - Many are wondering if the current pandemic is one of the ‘birth pains’ that presage the soon return of our Lord, where Jesus will be the final judge. The truth is, no one really knows if the current plague is a judgment from God on our unbelieving, immoral, materialistic, compromised world. No one can prove with absolute certainty that indeed coronavirus is a sign of the final judgment. But we do know this: sooner or later, the final judgment will come in its fullness. The average believer must ask for the gift of discernment as well as examine the prophet’s accuracy record. Such discernment is developed more accurately in those who have developed an intimate relationship with God. As in the Old Testament, many so-called prophets today do not have the gift of prophecy. The Bible indicates that they speak visions from their own “minds” and “imagination,” not from the mouth of the Lord. On rare occasions, disasters of one sort or another are God’s attempt to warn us that our time on this earth is but a vapor, a breath.

.................................................................................................................................................................

Is Coronavirus a Divine Judgment or a Call to Faith?

No matter if this is a natural plague or one sent by God, whether it is a call to believer or sinner, it reminds us why we are here and what our priorities should be - thus, it is truly a lifesaver for those who will believe

Dr. David Kyle Foster

Author

From Exodus to Revelation it is clear that God does indeed send plagues and disasters upon the earth.

This begs the question: Is today’s coronavirus pandemic one of those plagues?

Let’s look at some scripture in both the Old Testament and New Testament regarding plagues:

“I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:14)

“The Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.” (Deuteronomy 28:59)

“A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:18)

“They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him.” (Revelation 16:9)

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18)

This historical certainty, and foreseen revelation, leads to even more questions.

Is Coronavirus a ‘Birth Pain’ before Judgment?

Many are also wondering if the current pandemic is one of the ‘birth pains’ that presage the soon return of our Lord, where Jesus will be the final judge.

Let’s look at some scripture regarding this as well:

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:6-8)

“This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” (Romans 2:16)

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead.” (2 Timothy 4:1)

We Don’t Know if the Time is Now

The truth is, no one really knows if the current plague is a judgment from God on our unbelieving, immoral, materialistic, compromised world.

No one can prove with absolute certainty that indeed coronavirus is a sign of the final judgment.

But we do know this: sooner or later, the final judgment will come in its fullness.

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

What About the Prophets?

If you believe, as I do, that the gifts of the Spirit given to the Church at Pentecost were meant to be active until Jesus’ return, then how are we to receive the modern prophetic pronouncements about the origin of the coronavirus that are at odds with each other?

Many prophets say it is a judgment from God, while others say that it isn’t.

So how is the average person supposed to know which prophecies are true?

In the Old Testament, the answer was easy. If a prophet prophesied falsely, that was a guarantee that he was not a true prophet.

Those self-appointed, so-called prophets either spoke out of rebellion against God and His will, or blindness caused by their sinfulness, imagination, presumption, or self-exaltation. The true gift, therefore, was made an infallible gift. (See Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

In the New Testament era, however, things are different.

Prophets today do not have a 100% batting average.

Their gift is one of many spiritual gifts that have been given the Church, all of which are given to fallible people and all of which are expressed imperfectly (see Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 13:9-12; 1 Corinthians 14:29-33; Acts 2:17-18).

Prophecy is now for everyone to whom the Holy Spirit deems to give it. And as with other spiritual gifts, the person having it is sometimes wrong.

Consequently, the average believer must ask for the gift of discernment as well as examine the prophet’s accuracy record.

Such discernment is developed more accurately in those who have developed an intimate relationship with God.

As in the Old Testament, many so-called prophets today do not have the gift of prophecy.

The Bible indicates that they speak visions from their own “minds” and “imagination,” not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16c; Ezekiel 13:2b).

Why the difference between OT and NT criteria?

Spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ are graces that allow believers to participate in the work of the Holy Spirit, or as Scripture says, “participate in the divine nature” and the work of Christ (2 Peter 1:4).

Is Coronavirus God’s Wrath or Nature’s Fallen State?

Sometimes, disasters are simply the exigencies of nature, (which began when Adam & Eve sinned), expressing its own fallenness.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:22)

On rare occasions, disasters of one sort or another are God’s attempt to warn us that our time on this earth is but a vapor, a breath.

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:43b)

“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

“Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” (Psalm 144:4)

“Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath…” (Job 7:7a)

Our Eternal Fate Involves a Choice

So, what is our response to God's offer of eternal life (beyond this vapor) through Jesus Christ?

It is a choice we’re offered through trials and tribulations — that we ignore at our peril.

The truth is, all of us were born with a sinful nature.

“I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5)

“Through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

God’s Holy Fire Consumes

The problem for us as sinful humans is this: God is holy. His holiness is a fierce fire that destroys anything that is not holy.

“Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)

“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?” (Isaiah 33:14)

As sinful people, we cannot live in the presence of His holy fire without being consumed.

Thus, for us to live in His presence, we must be made holy as He is holy. Unfortunately, our righteousness is as filthy rags.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 54:6)

What Is the Antidote to Our Unrighteousness?

God has mercifully given us the antidote to our sin.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

How does Jesus make unrighteous man righteous? Let’s follow the path through scripture:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

The Present Darkness of Pandemic Is a Warning Not a Question

So, is the current pandemic a judgment from God? In truth, this is an irrelevant question. The pandemic is a manifestation of our present darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

It is a warning, if you will, whether from fallen nature or from God Himself, that we must turn to the Lord to be saved before it is too late.

And as we’ve seen, too late for us may be today!

The most important question of all is: When we do go, where will we go? Where will we be spending eternity?

And as we’ve seen already, only the Bible has the answer to that one.

It is also a call to those of us who have already been saved by the blood of the Lamb: that the purpose of our lives (whether here or in heaven) is to pursue an intimate relationship with our Creator.

That is the purpose of life itself! Why not take that seriously as well, by spending regular, quality time with the Lord.

Whether Final or Not, Choose Christ

The final day of judgment will indeed come as a thief in the night when it will be too late to choose. In such a case, suffering becomes a warning and a hard mercy.

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” (Luke 12:20)

“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

No matter if this is a natural plague or one sent by God, whether it is a call to believer or sinner, it reminds us why we are here and what our priorities should be.

Thus, it is truly a lifesaver for those who will believe.

Dr. David Kyle Foster is the author of Transformed Into His Image and Love Hunger and is the founder/director of Pure Passion Media (www.PurePassion.us). His newest book is The Sexual Healing Reference Edition. You can listen to his twice-weekly podcast by going to: www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/purepassion.

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/coronavirus/is-coronavirus-a-divine-judgment-or-a-call-to-faith.html?utm_source=Jeeng