There is nothing like an earthquake to get your attention. When Jesus died on the cross there was an earthquake. The centurion guarding Jesus said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 28:54). In Acts 16 we read of Paul and Silas in prison. There was an earthquake and they were freed, but out of respect for the jailor, they did not leave. As a result, the jailor and his whole household were baptized.
Again, in Revelation 11:13 we read, “At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” This is a Bible prophecy and the Andrews Study Bible suggests that it refers to the Great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 in Portugal. Estimates place the death toll between 10,000 and 100,000, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in Earth’s history.
I grew up in Minnesota. We didn’t have earthquakes, we had tornados. I remember one picked up a child and set him down on the other side of the road. Another day, there were five tornados in our county. One of these struck our neighbor’s barn and many other farm buildings. The neighbors came the next day and helped finish taking down the barn and soon a new barn was constructed in the same place.
When I was 16, I went to live with my Aunt and Uncle in California. It was an opportunity to go to Armona Union Academy as previously I had attended public schools. My friends pleaded with me not to go as there were earthquakes in California! Never mind the tornados we bravely survived! Well, I did go and lived in California many years before experiencing an earthquake. One day I was working as a nurse at Loma Linda Medical Center on the eighth floor. There was an earthquake. What I remember is that there was shaking and the IV bottles were moving back and forth and then it was over.
The next earthquake I experienced was here in Portland, Oregon, when I was working as a home health nurse. I had just driven up to my client’s house and was parked in their driveway. My car started to shake violently, then it stopped. I remember looking to see who was shaking my car. There was no one.
Yes, earthquakes tend to get our attention. In today’s reading, seven thousand people were killed and the survivors were terrified. This must have been a big one such as the one that is predicted for Oregon. Many natural disasters are predicted before the end of this world. They should get our attention. In Matthew we read, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.…Therefore, you also be ready, for the son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt 24:42, 44).
Lynette Holm
is married to Ray, her college sweetheart. She is a nurse and is enjoying reading her Bible through this year along with the comments on each passage in the Andrews Study Bible. She and Ray look forward to Christ’s soon return and spending an eternity with Jesus in Heaven.
The Word of Promise audio Bible is used by permission. For more information and to purchase the complete audio Bible go to https://www.wordofpromiseapp.com/.
Revelation 10
The Mighty Angel with the Little Book
1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
John Eats the Little Book
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The Witnesses Killed
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
Psalm 43
Prayer to God in Time of Trouble
1 Vindicate me, O God,
And plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
2 For You are the God of my strength;
Why do You cast me off?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your tabernacle.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.