INTRODUCTION
A. The recent 7.8 magnitude EARTHQUAKE that hit Turkey and Syria killing more than 20,000 people, brought great FEAR and DESTRUCTION to those places.
1. Why do EARTHQUAKES strike populous countries suddenly and without warnings?
2. God's judgments, global warming or the BEGINNINGS of GREAT SORROWS mentioned in Mark 13:8?
3. Let us know the reasons from God's words as Jesus said in John 8:32.
B. Our approach in this study shall be as follows:
1. What are EARTHQUAKES? Why do they happen in our world?
2. The scientific explanation of EARTHQUAKE's causes
3. The Scriptural Exposition On EARTHQUAKE happenings
4. Lessons that we can learn from EARTHQUAKE's devastating effects.
DISCUSSION
A. What are EARTHQUAKES? Why do they happen in our world?
1. " Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement along faults within the Earth."
2. " The movement releases stored-up ELASTIC STRAIN energy in the form of SEISMIC WAVES which propagate through the Earth and cause the ground to shake."
3. Such movement on the faults is generally a RESPONSE to long-term deformation and the build-up of stress."
4. Where do earthquakes occur?
- most of the activity is concentrated in distinct earthquake belts
- the edge of the Pacific Ocean and in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
- over 80% of large earthquakes occur around the edges of the Pacific Ocean, known as the RING of FIRE
B. The Scientific Explanation of Earthquake's Causes
1. Seismic Waves- one of the major causes of earthquakes.
a. These waves make heavy disruption when they flow
b. Major examples of such an earthquake were in Assam, India in 1897 and in 1950
2. Compression in the Earth's Crust
a. Examples were earthquakes in Australia due to movements along faults
b. These were caused by the compression in the Earth's crust
3. Tectonic Movements of the Earth
a. Caused when the CRUST becomes subjected to strain and eventually starts moving
b. Many earthquakes are located in these areas where these plates could collide or slide past each other
c. Due to tectonic movements, San Francisco had noticed small shakes
4. Any Disturbance on the Surface
a. All earthquakes are mainly caused by disturbance of the outside crust on the ephemeral surface of the earth
b. Anything which tends to destroy the perfect equilibrium of the globe will cause an earthquake
c. Each side and every part must necessarily carry the same weight
d. The required perfect nature's balance is spoiled by man's removal of earth, ores, rock, coal and the building of cities.
e. Example- the Himachal Pradesh Earthquake in India in 2014
C. The Scriptural Exposition On Earthquake Happenings
1. God's words predict the occurrences of earthquakes in various places and their effects on people
a. "...and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven," Luke 21:11
b. Aside from earthquakes, there will be " famines " in various places, Matthew 24:7
c. Isaiah 24:19 " The earth is utterly BROKEN, ...is SPLIT APART...is violently SHAKEN."
2. Old Testament writers described EARTHQUAKES as follows:
a. " We not fear though the EARTH gives way, though the mountains be MOVED into the heart of the sea," Psalm 46:2
b. " He who REMOVES mountains...when He overturns them in His anger, who SHAKES the earth out of its place, and its PILLARS tremble," Job 9:5-6; Isaiah 13:13
c. " Then the earth REELED and ROCKED; the foundations also of the mountains TREMBLED and QUAKED, because He was ANGRY," Psalm 18:7
3. From the Old Testament writers, we learn that God Himself SHAKES the EARTH out of ANGER even at His own people.
a. " The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its TRANSGRESSION lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again," Isaiah 24:20
b." The earth opened its MOUTH and swallowed them up, with their households and ALL the PEOPLE who belonged to Korah and all their goods," Numbers 16:32
c. And a prophecy of a final destruction of the wicked, " Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the EARTH and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an EARTHQUAKE," Revelation 8:5
D. Lessons We Can Learn From Earthquakes' Devastating Effects
1. Firstly, the 7.8 magnitude earthquake last February 6, 2023 killing more than 20,000 people happened in Turkey and Syria
2. These places had great earthquakes in the past destroying lives and properties.
3. The Seven (7) Churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3 were in Asia Minor, now Modern Turkey.
4. The Antioch church in Syria was a prosperous missionary church in Paul's time, circa 50-55 AD
5. Now, both are predominantly Muslim countries, 99% in Turkey and 83% in Syria, with sprinkling of Christians.
6. There are fault lines in those places, but is it possible that God uses EARTHQUAKES to remind people of His existence and power?
7. As in the past, the Lord shook the EARTH out of His anger even against the Israelites, Numbers 16:32
CONCLUSION
A. Calamities, like earthquakes, are God's warnings to the world " to repent of their sins and turn to God."
1. In Luke 13:1-5, Jesus told the Jews " unless you repent, you will all perish."
2. " The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:9 ( NIV )
3. The gospel of Christ will assure people of " spiritual rest and salvation," Matthew 11:28-30
B. Today, it is high time to tell all people ( i.e. victims of calamities ) that " spiritual salvation " is in Jesus only
1. In John 14:6, Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except though Me."
2. " He who believes and is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16
3. " Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," Acts 2:38
4. Today is the day of salvation, 2 Corinthians 6:2
5. Those who do not obey the gospel will be punished when Jesus returns, 2 Thessalonians 1:8