The Earthquake – Part 4
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Mat 27:51)
We need to go one more step in looking at earthquakes and mountains in the Bible. We began with the miraculous earthquake on the mountain that has three names: Mt.Moriah/Mt. Zion/Mt. Calvary. This famous earthquake occurred at the instant Jesus uttered His cry of victory: “It is finished!” The 60’ veil in the Temple rent from top to bottom in the presence of appointed priests who were inside the Temple, getting ready for the Evening Sacrifice.
A million people had gathered from all over Israel and several foreign countries to celebrate the annual Passover Feast. They had witnessed the three hours of darkness from noon until 3:00 p.m. A million-people experienced the earthquake. The hand of God orchestrated the earthquake to impress upon all those people the enormity of what was taking place on the cross.
“Why should not the earth have been affected by what Christ accomplished on the cross? Did not man’s sin bring a curse on the earth? Thorns and briars and inclement seasons, man’s sweaty toil, the savagery of brute beasts, and all the countless antagonisms of nature are the footprints of man’s sin. If then, man’s redemption is as real as man’s sin, should not the earth feel its effects?
Indeed, it would seem as if both man and earth were almost but one vital organism. Is it credible that so great a change in man’s estate, that is, his redemption could be effected, and creation not have a share in it? And if a share, that it should not give expression to it?
“The Scriptures speak of the coming regeneration of the earth, that is, a physical regeneration which shall be the counterpart of the world’s moral glory under the reign of Christ. We cannot but see that we have in the earthquake at Calvary, not only a pledge but an earnest, of the fulfillment of those prophesies.
“In Romans, Paul speaks of “the whole creation groaning and travailing in pain together until now,” and says, “the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God; because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” He even attributes to creation the feeling of “hope.
“So, then, we have the authority of Paul for representing the trembling of the earth as a foretaste of its destined millennial blessedness, when “the trees of the field shall clap their hands”─when the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days.”(Nicholson – Died June 7, 1901. So, his comments on the Six Miracles of Calvary would have been at least 115 years ago.)
Reading the Bible will reveal that God blends His control of the earth with His dealing with the people of the earth, each one made by the hand of God. It is amazing that God does this so smoothly and so effortlessly to bring about His purpose and plan with nations, communities, and individuals. It would be a great help to any person who comes to understand that God can cause crops to come forth in abundance or He can withhold the early and latter rain and cause a drought.
God can cause the sun to diminish or increase its radiation. Without effort, God can cause or prohibit an earthquake or a tsunami. During the Great Tribulation, earthquakes will occur on both sides of the earth at the same time, which are not now observed and are thought to be an impossibility today. Earthquakes can turn concrete runways, highways and bridges on their sides and stop the flow of traffic. Reading the book of Revelation should give us pause. Half of the earth’s population will be destroyed during the Great Tribulation and much of it from earthquakes.
Five years ago, on Sand Mountain, Alabama we had four tornadoes in one day and 46 people died from them. God was in charge. The greatest single factor that affects our economy is the weather. He is in charge! He was in charge when Jesus uttered His last cry from the cross and a great earthquake coincided with it. Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
APRIL 26, 2017 – WEDNESDAY
A.M. 2 Sam 15-16 P.M. Luke 20:27-47
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Act 2:36)
Song for Today:
Because He Lives (2:58) (George Beverly Shea) (Orchestra)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsnWfWdVw1M
You may need to adjust your volume control