Chapter Eighteen -Earthquakes in the Lord's Day

HAVE you ever lived through a severe earthquake? It is not a pleasant experience. A big tremor may start with a sickening roll and rumbling noise.  The swaying may worsen by fits and starts while you dash for safety-perhaps under a desk. Or it may come as a sudden, shattering jolt, followed by the crashing of crockery, furnishings, even buildings. Damage may be catastrophic, with frequent aftershocks inflicting further damage and adding to the misery.

Having this in mind, consider what John describes  at the opening of the sixth seal:  "And I saw  when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred."  (Revelation 6:12a)  This must fall within the same time frame as the opening of the other seals. Just when in the Lord's day does this earthquake occur, and what kind of quake is it? -Revelation 1:10.

Literal and figurative quakings of the earth are mentioned  a number of times in the Bible.  In his great prophecy about the sign of his presence in Kingdom power, Jesus forecast "earthquakes in one place after another."  This would the start of "a beginning of pangs and distress."  Since 1914, with earth's population exploding into the thousands  of millions, literal tremblors have contributed  significantly to the distresses of our times.  (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8)  Nevertheless, even though they fulfill prophecy,m those earthquakes have been natural, physical disasters. They are preliminary to the great symbolic earthquake of Revelation 6:12.  This, indeed, comes as the devastating finale to  a series of advance tremors that shake Satan's human earthly system of things to it foundations. 

Next time: Chapter Eighteen - Earthquakes in the Lord's Day - Tremors in Human Society 

From the book of Revelation