TSUNAMI GOD’S INHERENT RIGHT Part 2 TO CONTROL EARTHQUAKES.

When the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, ‘Behold there was a great ( mega ) earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.’ (Matthew 28: 2 ) This was no after shock from the earth’s trembling when the Son of God was made sin for us on the cross. Heaven rejoiced in the triumph. God released the earthquake to record the greatest victory of all ages; over satan, death, and the once insurmountable obstacle of our sins; in the rising again of the Father’s beloved Son .

Mark 16 told how ‘the stone was rolled away- for it was very large.’ Matthew recorded the coming of an angel from heaven, who came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.’ With the first earthquake at the time of the crucifixion, many graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of their graves after His resurrection, they went into the city and appeared to many’ They recognised these saints, because of their spiritual character- not by physical appearance: as Moses and Elijah were known by Peter, James and John on transfiguration mount.

God planned the orderly resurrections for the Lord Jesus was the first-fruits of the resurrection.. He must rise first; then they were raised following. The earthquake prepared Jerusalem for a major awakening. Fear (understandably ) gripped the inhabitants. The Old testament saints appeared, confirming their faith in their crucified and risen Lord. Then the prayer meeting , recorded in acts 1, and the mighty visitation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter, full of the divine Advocate, preached and 3, 000 prepared lives bowed to their precious Saviour, Lord and Director. Our Creator shook Jerusalem as a preliminary for this soul-stirring event.

Prayer And singing hymns precipitated a mighty earthquake when Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods. Would the Lord use such a catastrophic event just because two of His special servants had been persecuted? The outcome vindicated the Lord’s use of such a natural event. Acts 16:26 told that “it was a great ( mega ) earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s chains were loosed.’ Consternation reigned for ‘the keeper of the prison awaked from sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, and supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword , intending to kill himself.’ (Acts 16:27) His life hung precariously: but for the grace of God.

Paul called out with a loud voice, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ No human casualties were sustained even with this shaking of the city. The gaoler’s life was spared, ‘ He called for a light, ran in, and fell down before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ’Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ An earthquake shook a life, and softened the heart of the cruel, callous Roman gaoler to enquire of his eternal salvation. It was God’s pre-conversion masterpiece.

Amidst the ruins of the earthquake, they gave this majestic answer, ’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Countless millions have heard this glorious prescription for salvation, which came amidst the upheaval and dust from the earth’s cataclysm. That was only the beginning of blessing: for reconciliation with the evangelist and the gaoler’s family followed.

‘Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him- and to all that were in his house- children, family, servants,. ‘ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, blood, gore, lacerations and bruising. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.’ Holy Spirit enlightenment had shone in his heart. It was life and death. Christ Jesus had redeemed the gaoler.

What celebration followed, ’ When he had brought them into his house ( God had transformed relationships from prisoner to preacher ) , the gaoler set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.’ The Father has an inherent right to use crushing, seismic activity for His holy will.

During the seven-year tribulation, the two prophets will speak fearless warnings in Jerusalem. The Lord said, ’I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand, two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.’ However, the beast who ascended from the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome , and kill them. ( Revelation 11:7) Their awe-inspiring resurrection follows, ‘ After three and a half days. The breath of life from God entered them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.’

Heaven responded, ‘they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them ‘Come up here’. and they ascended to heaven in a cloud’ similar to our Lord’s ascent to glory. God registered His disapproval of their rejection by a ‘A great, terrible earthquake, when a tenth of the city ( Jerusalem ) fell. (v13) In the earthquake, seven thousand men were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.’

Notice the succession of events; a loud voice from the throne room of the universe;

Jerusalem again in a seismic catastrophe over that fault line; His stern judgment in taking the lives of so many thousands; great fear gripping the people; and their attributing glory to the God of heaven. Earthquakes are neither incidental or accidental, but dictated by the Lord from heaven. They may be the means of dispensing His perfect justice; He may also employ them to bring salvation to many and receive glory from the redeemed.

An under-ocean earthquake triggered off a devastating tsunami on Boxing Day 2004, when 150,000 lives were taken. It havocked villages and homes, depriving them of all support. Crops were ruined; water sources contaminated. The suffering nations were in the 10/40 window, including areas precluded from the liberating gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Doctors, nurses, specialists in trauma, food and clean water distributors have volunteered for newly-opened areas. Many have demonstrated Christ‘s compassion, even non-Christians weeping at the stark, grievous state of affairs. Nations are preparing massive rebuilding of homes, schools, purification of water supplies, sewerage systems, providing trauma counsellors, while field and established hospitals are working round the clock.

God’s people must intercede for these nations, sacrifice financially, and expect our mighty God to draw many of these peoples into a saving relationship with HIM, out of spiritual darkness into HIS glorious light.

Our Sovereign Lord has exclusive right to earthquakes- and their after-shocks.