Are there more earthquakes?

I updated this data through November 6, 2011 in a new chart. Please visit this blog entry to see the new data.

This question comes up a lot. We know that in the end times Jesus said that "there will be earthquakes in diverse places." He also said that there would be upheavals in the cosmos and in the weather. We know that there will be huge quakes in the Tribulation, mega-quakes that topple every wall, every mountain, and submerge the islands (Ez 38:20; Rev 6:12; Rev 16:20). Earthquakes are important to wonder about because it is one of the major ways God speaks to us and it is also a major way He judges. Earthquakes are important prophetically, spiritually, and personally, too. There is nothing more unsettling than the very earth beneath our feet giving way. With this in mind, many people believe that there has been an increase in seismic activity in advance of these prophesied events. So? Has there been?

I've presented graphs several times that show a history of an upward trend. The most recent graph was updated September 26, 2011.


The source is US geological Survey and the trends are a statistically solid ten-year outlook. But yet people still wonder, are earthquakes on the rise? USGS keeps saying no, it only SEEMS like there is because we have placed a higher number of seismic instruments around the world. So here are some other people who did the data and found, guess what? The incidents of earthquakes are on the rise.

The Deccan Chronicle is the largest circulated English daily in south India and the third largest English daily newspaper in India overall. Their article from yesterday states that "Killer earthquakes are on the rise."
The last decade has seen an intensification in earthquake activities. The 2004 Sumatra quake in Indonesia, which registered 9.3 on the Richter scale, has triggered stress in many areas. The Sikkim earthquake could be a manifestation of this stress. Earthquakes, some scientists believe, are on the rise. The earthquake in Fukushima in Japan had a magnitude of 8.9 and was the largest in the recorded history of Japan. The February 2010 Chile earthquake registered a similar magnitude as the Japan quake while the January 2010 quake in Haiti had a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale." The author continues int he article, making the plea that with evidence showing killer quakes are on the rise and with the example of Japan's thorough training, preparation and building codes, India could do much better in those areas given the data and what is to come.

Even more, this CBN article from September 21:
"In the Bible, Jesus talks about "earthquakes in various places" as signs of the end times. As several powerful quakes rocked various places around the world last year and so far this year, many are finding those words even more compelling. Even the heartland of America has seen an increase in the number of quakes. The year 2010 began with a deadly earthquake in Haiti. But before the year ended, more than 20 earthquakes struck worldwide, reaching a magnitude of 7.0 or higher -- the largest number of major earthquakes in 40 years. That trend is continuing in places like Japan, Guatemala, the India-Nepal border, and New Zealand."

"Oklahoma has definitely seen a spike in quake activity. More than 1,000 were recorded in 2010 alone, most too small to be felt. Before that, the largest number of quakes recorded in a year -- felt and not felt -- was 167. Before 2009, Oklahomans experienced on average only about three earthquakes strong enough to be felt each year. In 2009, that number jumped to 43. To the east, Arkansas is experiencing a number of earthquakes as well. More than 800 have hit the north central part of the state since September. The largest one to shake Arkansas in 35 years struck in February with a magnitude 4.7."

Much more at link.

So what does this mean? It means that no matter what, unrepentant sinners will not inherit eternal life. They go to hell. Death can come at any time, by heart attack, car crash, or earthquake. It means that natural disasters n advance of the Tribulation are ramping up just like birth pangs, as Jesus said would happen. It means time is short, and He is coming soon to catch away His church and to judge the world. It means He is merciful, shaking us so that we will ponder these things and repent. Here are "Four Reasons why God is Shaking America & The World: Text of “Wake Up Call” sermon. Here is the conclusion to that sermon by Joel Rosenberg:

"Let’s be clear: the Bible tells us that these shakings are going to continue, and get worse, like birth pangs, increasing in frequency and intensity — contraction and release, contraction and release. Our Father is trying to wake us up before it is too late. Our Lord Jesus Christ is giving us time…..
  • to rekindle our first love with Him
  • to embrace Him
  • to eat of the Bread of Life
  • to drink of the living water
  • to follow Him no matter what the journey
  • to serve Him no matter how high the cost
  • to discover His mercies afresh every morning
  • to discover that when the world is being shaken, you don’t have to be – not in your heart, not in your soul – because your hope and trust is fully in Him.
"And, “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22).

Where are you tonight? Are you ready to meet Jesus face to face?"


Comments

  1. I know there is a lot of debate over this issue, but the increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma (also Texas, Pennsylvania and other states) is most likely being caused by fracking. In other words, man-made cause - man searching for oil and gas.

    There is an increase right now in "meteors" as well. Fireballs, too. Again, this could be due to all the space junk floating around in the earth's orbit, falling back to earth in firey display.

    I've thought about this a lot. It's possible that God is using man's own actions at this point to fulfill His perfect will and to, in essense, 'hide' what He is doing from mankind. We have 'natural' reasons for these things happening all over the world. Earthquakes due to fraking, the lowering of the water table, possibly even from all the vibrations we cause all over the world by our vehicles, earthmoving machines, breaking of the sound barrier - there are dozens of ways we impact the earth every minute in ways we did not just a generation ago. Even all of the bombing and nuclear testing mankind has done over the past 100 years. Man himself is making many of these things happen.

    Earthquakes and meteors are also naturally occuring things. The way God created our universe and due to the result of sin, these things happen naturally and always have since the Garden of Eden, at least.

    I believe the Bible 100% and therefore understand that nothing happens outside of God's plan. *I* can see the hand of God at work, and *you* can see His hand, but it is hidden to the natural man. Unregenerate people have no excuse (Romans 1), but God has not given them the ability to see what is happening around them and respond correctly.

    At the end of time, there will be no doubt at all that it is the hand of God Almighty Himself causing these things, without any input from humanity. But I've wondered many times, if this build-up to that time is not part of what God uses to alert His chosen people but keep secret from those who are not.

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  2. I agree with Anonymouse.

    I'd like to say that when_the_birth_pangs_start (if we are still here as Christians) we will know it. There's false labor then there's real labor. We'll know, probably because we'll see all kinds of things happening at once.

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  3. seems like we are already there...things could be much worse and will get much worse..I guess one question would be how much will we be here to experience...

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