Topical Sermon Series

(Earthquakes)

Preliminary:
The July 27, 2019 magnitude 5.9 Batanes earthquake and was preceded by a 5.4 5,4 magnitude foreshock, resulted to casualties
of 9 people dead, and 60 injured. When we were in MOA, April 22, 2019, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Pampanga, despite
the fact that its epicenter is in Zambales, leaving 18 dead, 3 missing, and 256 injured. The most memorable for me was way back
July 16, 1990, a 45 second magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Nueva Ecija, but the damaged reached the Cordillera region, and
NCR. About 1,621 people were killed, 28 collapsed buildings including the Hyatt Hotel.

Earthquakes are a part of this fallen world and they are going on all the time. Some like to speculate that they are more frequent
now than ever, but F. W. Borham, writing in 1918, said, "there is an earthquake on the average every quarter of an hour-or about
thirty to forty thousand a year. The earth is like a flea-bitten dog which is always shaking and twitching." Sometimes the
destruction is beyond belief, but experts say “we have not seen the worst yet-the big one.” But the world has already seen some
really big ones.

The greatest loss of life by an earthquake took place in 1556 in Central China when 830,000 people were killed. The second
largest loss of life was in 1976 near Peking, China when 655,000 people died. There have been dozens of earthquakes with tens
of thousands of lives lost. It is estimated that about 13,000,000 people have lost their lives in earthquakes. So there have been
big ones in the past, and there will be bigger ones in the future.

We will be discussing the following points:

I. Earthquakes Signify the Presence of God
II. Earthquake Are Also Manifestations of God’s Wrath
III. Earthquakes and God’s Merciful Deliverance of His People

Message:
“Earthquakes, and the Anger of God”
(Nahum 1:5)

I. Earthquakes Signify the Presence of God

First of all, let’s talk about the lessons for those who are Christians, for those who are prepared to die, for those for whom death
is a settled issue, meaning only entrance into the presence of God. Those of us who know the Lord, those of us who belong to
him, those of us who can see this from a biblical perspective, who can have the divine angle on it, there are lessons that we must
understand. There might be a lot of it if we dig in to all scriptures, but here are some that will hopefully embrace at what is
important.
 For those who are Christians, for those who are prepared to die, for those for whom death is a settled issue, meaning
only entrance into the presence of God. Those of us who know the Lord, those of us who belong to him, those of us
who can see this from a biblical perspective, who can have the divine angle on it, there are seven lessons that I want to
mention. For those who are not Christians, this is very timely for you. There might be more, but here are some that will
hopefully embrace at what is important.
 First of all, we need to be reminded and understand that God is sovereign and cannot be accused as the author of sin
(Psalm 103:19). We are reminded in every calamity that comes to the world, particularly in the form of earthquake -
that nothing is out of control. That something isn’t happening beyond God’s ability, beyond His design, beyond His
purpose, or beyond His will. God is sovereign, and His sovereign purposes are coming together as He governs, directs all
the events of the universe to accomplish His own plan in redemptive history.
 So this all fits into the eternal plan of God. God has not lost control; Satan can’t make the earthquake he is not the
Creator of the universe. No usurper has taken His place. God hasn’t gone away on a deist vacation and letting everything
kind of do whatever it will do on its own. God is, and still sovereign; God is, and still on the throne; He is, and still in
complete and absolute control of everything and everyone (Amos 3:6). Earthquakes and calamities are not caused by
mere chance or by nature, rather everything is under the sovereign power – the sovereign control of God. God is the
first cause.
 By nature, all men are terrified of earthquakes, that even the fiercest of men will cry when he is amidst a terrible
earthquake (Numbers 16:31-34). When God visits the earth, His presence is felt by all His creations (Judges 5:5; Psalm
68:7-8, Exodus 19:18). Elijah, when he was running away from Jezebel and he seeks the refuge of God, the earth felt
God’s presence passing by (1 Kings 19:11).
 Every time an earthquake strikes, it is a reminder for us that God comes down to earth and visits His creation (Isaiah
64:1-3; Habakkuk 3:10). With all these evidences, we are drawn to the conclusion that, God causes earthquakes and
 calamities as a manifestation of His presence, and a display of His sovereignty.

II. Earthquakes Are Also Manifestations of God’s Wrath

Unfortunately, there are two sides to every issue, and we have to see the New Testament also reveals God's use of the
earthquake as a means of judgment. Just as a father uses his belt both for support of his pants and for discipline; and just as a
mother uses a kitchen tool for food control and child control; and just as the teacher uses the ruler to measure and to punish; so
God uses the earthquake both for saving man and judging man.
 All of the seven judgment earthquakes are in the book of Revelation. They are severe in there devastation, and go way
beyond the Richter Scale. Revelation 6:12-14 says, "There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth
made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs dropped from a fig
tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed
from its place." Such are the judgment earthquakes that represent God's wrath on a sinful rebellious world.
 The interesting thing we see in the judgment earthquakes is the radically different response of those who feel God's
wrath. In Revelation 16:21, the response to the big one was the people cursed God. But, on the other hand, back in Rev.
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." Every
earthquake gets people's attention on God, either to curse Him or to praise Him.
 Now, as earthquakes are the works of a divine and almighty agent, so they are some of the terrible effects of his wrath
(Psalm 18:7). He shakes the earth, and causes the foundations of the hills to be moved and shaken, when in His wrath,
He who made the world at first His power, and governs it by an indisputable authority, to chastise the insolence of his
rebellious creatures, and by the commanding awe of his judgments, to maintain the homage and obedience of his
people.
 As God is invisible, so his displeasure is known by the judgments which he executes in the earth. There he brings out
many judgments to chastise a sinful people. Fire and hail snow and vapour, ash fall, stormy wind fulfill his Word (Psa.
148.8). He visits with thunder and earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire
(Isa. 29.6).
 But earthquakes for the most part come suddenly, without any previous notice, and surprise sinners in the midst of
their security and ease. Whilst they are enjoying the idolatry and lusts of this world themselves, sudden destruction
comes upon them, and there is no escaping.
 Because of the wretched, continuous practice, and enjoyment of sin, sinners who is regardless of God, and no respect to
the Creator of the universe, the heavens are astonished, and the earth itself is afraid at the anger of the Lord, it may
well make sinners tremble, and cause their hearts to be removed out of their place. For He that shakes the earth, can
shake them into hell in a moment, and torment them in the fire of His “jealousy” forever. What is this jealousy? His
visitation is a warning and judgment to those who practice abomination before Him (Exodus 20:3-5). But such is the
unaccountable stupidity and hardness of for sinners, that oftentimes they will provoke God to his face by their idolatry
(Jeremiah 4:22, 24-26; Ezekiel 38:19-20).
 And by not taking heed of His warnings, they mock the thunder of his judgments, and despise the glittering spear of
almighty vengeance. The belief of his justice and power makes the very devils to tremble; and yet the judgments of God
are oftentimes ineffectual to reclaim obstinate and incorrigible sinners, who dare to affront his infinite Majesty, as if
they were a match for Omnipotence, as if they could resist His fury, this is the folly of idolatry!
 Sin considered in itself, and abstracted from its woeful consequences, a transgression of the law, it is an affront insult to
the supreme Lawgiver, and obscures the glory of his attributes.
 The evil of sin shows us the woeful folly of sinners in their idolatry, who daily provoke God's wrath, indignation, and fury.
People are warned to abandon their idolatry, their sinful lusts. They turn a deaf ear to all the warnings of God's Word,
and despise the grace of God, which teaches them to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in the presence of a holy God.
 If the wrath of God the cause of the most fearful judgments, then let us stand in awe, and not sin against him. The Fear
of God and his judgments, should create an unalterable divorce between us and our sins. Because there is wrath, we
should beware of sin, which an infinitely pure and holy God, and men in their folly, the fools who practice lawlessness
before Him, must humbly come for repentance. This is a call for repentance!

III. Earthquakes and God’s Merciful Deliverance of His People

When the earth shakes and trembles, it teaches us the vanity of the world, and the uncertainty of all its “enjoyments.”
Earthquakes are also used by God to benefit His people.
 When the Earth shakes and trembles, it teaches us the vanity of the world, and the uncertainty of all its “enjoyments.” It
shows us that we are helpless and dependent only to the mercies and grace of God. It leads us to humble ourselves to
 the Omnipotent God. That we must not cling to our earthly possessions, rather store for ourselves treasures in heaven
(Matthew 6:19-21).
 God seems to have taken us into His own hands, to chastise us for our rebellion and disobedience; and we
have reason to fear that the earthquake with which he has visited us, will be but the beginning of our sorrows,
unless we hear His voice, and turn at his rebuke.
 In Acts 16:26, , “What must I do to be saved?” the Jailer enquired to Paul and Silas.It lead to the conversion of
the Jailer. Peter and John after they preached in Acts 4:31, the believers were filled by the Holy Spirit and was
shaken, and they began to speak the word of God with boldness, a sanctification of God’s people.
 One may assume that any such calamity of nature is evil in its origin. Just as the personal tragedies of rape, robbery, and
murder, accidents, are assumed to be of evil origin, so the destructive power of natural disaster, or untoward incident,
are to be assumed to be of evil origin. It is just what it appears to be-evil.
 When we recognize that God is sovereign, and even where He permits Satan to do his evil will, He is also accomplishing
His own two-fold purpose of judgment and salvation.
 In other words, we can assume that in any calamity there will be those who are reaping what they have sown. There will
be some element of judgment. We can also assume that God is working to bring forth repentance so that there will be
fruit for eternity because of the calamity.
 Heb. 12:26-29 sums it up beautifully, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words 'once
more' indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably
with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." God can use the shaking of what is passing to move people to
the solid rock that does not shake, and, thereby, bring good out of evil. Coming to this conclusion has never been a
fortifying factor in people's faith. Earthquakes can wreck everything, including faith. It led to deliverance and not to
destruction (Matthew 27:51-54).
 Then in Matthew 28:2 we find another one, the Easter earthquake which accompanied the resurrection of Jesus. Here
was the best of them all. Here is the really big one from the positive perspective. This was the ultimate in positive
earthquakes. The kingdom of hell was unhinged, and Jesus walked away as Lord of all with the power to release
everyone from the bondage of death.

 Now let's face this New Testament fact. God used earthquakes to accomplish His purpose of salvation for mankind, and,
therefore, there is a wonderful and awesome and positive side to the earthquake. It is important for us to see this
positive side for it is comforting to know that God may be doing something of great value for mankind even in what
seems to us to be very negative.

Summary:
So what is the bottom line on all of this? How are we to think about the terrible tragedies produced by earthquakes?
Read: Psalm 46:2-3. The Biblical evidence leads us to these applications.
 This serves as a warning for those that are not yet in the faith, to come to repentance and cast their faith upon
Jesus, or the coming judgment will be upon those who are enemies of the gospel of Christ.
 Suffering calamity in this life makes us long for the perfect world – suffering calamity in this life makes us long
for the perfect world. A little of this, and you want to say, “I’d like to go somewhere where it doesn’t shake.” I’d
like to go somewhere where there’s no fear, no danger, no death, no problems. You’re talking about heaven.
And if we are to set affections on things above and not on things of the earth, this will help us do it. I want to
get to that unshakable kingdom. Peter says “We are strangers and aliens.” Paul says, “Far better to depart and
be with Christ.” Philippians 1. Philippians 3, “For our citizenship is not on earth.”
 “The sufferings of this world,” Paul says in Romans 8:18, “are not worthy to be compared with the glory that’ll
be ours in the future.” Paul says, I can’t wait to leave this place. I want to go to the perfect world. I want to go
where it doesn’t shake. I want to go where there’s no sorrow, sickness, pain or death. This makes heaven all
the more wonderful. All the more joyous. No fears, no doubts no anxieties, no questions, for all things work
together for good to those who love God.
 And now, Brethren, seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought us to be in all holy
conversation and godliness. Looking for and hastening unto the day of the coming of God; we must be diligent, that we
may be without blemish in the day of His coming.
 Letting go of things that will not glorify God and would not add anything to our heavenly goal. “The Lord giveth, and the
Lord taketh,” and all the visible things that we seemingly value the most here on earth will all be consumed in the
coming of the Lord. Therefore, knowing all earthly things that surrounds us or within our possession are just temporal,
let us seek the things above that leads to eternal life (Romans 8:28).
  Life is uncertain, but eternal life is certain in Christ Jesus. The goal of life is to have a foundation that nothing can shake,
and that foundation is the Solid Rock-Jesus Christ. Put your trust in Him and you will have an unshakable foundation
forever.

randypmarchadesch/solideogloria2019