Earthquakes

In the Bible, earthquakes are associated with God's judgment/wrath upon those who believed the devil's lie and chased after the lust of the flesh, the love of money, and the pride of the eye instead of being rich toward their Maker. However, it should be noticed that the Believer should not be inordinately afraid of these earthquakes, for the believer has been delivered from the wrath of God associated with His judgment. Concerning the wrath of God, Paul gave the Thessalonians an encouraging word from God "...to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come (I Thes. 1:10)...For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thes. 5:9).

One familiar with the Bible can't contemplate earthquakes without thinking about Elijah's strange experience on the mount as recorded in 1 Kings 19:11-12.

And he (Jesus, the Word of the LORD) said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

After this experience, the LORD then communed with Elijah.

Vine's Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words defines the Greek word seismos thusly: a shaking, a shock," from seio, "to move to and fro, to shake," chiefly with the idea of concussion (Eng., "seismic," "seismology," "seismometry"), is used (a) of a "tempest" in the sea, Matt. 8:24; (b) of "earthquakes," Matt. 24:7; 27:54; 28:2; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11; Acts 16:26; Rev. 6:12; 8:5; 11:13 (twice) ,19; 16:18 (twice)." Let's read the passage where it is used of a tempest in the sea.

(Matthew 8:23-27)
And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

That the same word can be translated earthquake and tempest in the sea seems strange unless it's put in its prophetic context. Remember, prophetically the sea is the mass of people ripe for the Lord's harvest and the ship is the local church/body of believers; therefore, the Lord's use of the word seismos in Matt 8:24 is akin to His use of the word to Elijah in at least two ways. The use is similar in that like those caught in an earthquake, the masses of people that go through the times of God's judgments will be shaken, fear stricken, disoriented, and standing in harms way. The use is also similar in that it is meant to comfort the believers who will be exempt from God's wrath-- though they may have to go through times of "tempest." However, neither of these passages should be read to say that God is never in the frightful wind of a storm or the shaking of an earthquake; nor should they be read to say that the Church will not go through some "earthquakes." But they do say that God deals differently with the godly and the ungodly.

It will help us with our understanding of prophecy if we'll remember that there are three groups of people prophetically; that each group has a different relationship with God; and that during times of divine judgment, God will deal with each group in a different way.

As to the New Testament Church, we've already read how God has delivered us from His wrath which is sure to come. (This is not to mean that the Church has not been given to suffer for our Lord's namesake or that it will not have its martyrs. But we should be assured that like with Stephen of old, the LORD will be very near when a believer is called upon to suffer thusly.)

As to the other church (called out ones) Israel--the ones who rejected the Messiah sent to them from heaven--we read in Luke 21:23 of their plight in the latter days. "But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people."

But as to the unbeliever we read in John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

So, that earthquakes are associated with the fearful times of God's wrath is indisputable for Jesus Himself began His prophetic teaching on the mount of Olives with "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Mt. 24:7-8) However, when this verse is read in its context, we see these earthquakes as only a part of the "beginning of sorrows," there is much more prophesied that must take place before the Lord will return for His Church.