Are earthquakes a warning from God to repent?

Earthquakes in the Bible

Would you believe, earthquakes are mentioned only 30 times in the Bible? Here they are (use <previous/next> to scroll through the table:

As you can see, there’s nothing in there that’s really positive for us. It is all about warnings. At best, about the power and awesomeness of God.

To that end, here’s a summary from a book I found while researching this – and just added to my library – about earthquake prophesies:

Throughout history, God has used earthquakes to prove His presence, deliver His people, execute His wrath, or demonstrate His power. In the future, the Bible says, earthquakes will also punctuate significant happenings set for the last days.
The writings of more than two dozen individuals in church history who have prophesied specific earthquakes for the end times are compiled in this book by Stanley Hoerman and Bob Armstrong. 
This trumpet call for believers to “get ready” for the end times offers a historical thread of prophetic expressions, each pointing us toward dramatic seismic events to come at the end of the age.  ³Hoerman, Stanley, and Bob Armstrong. Earthquakes Prophesied: Beware! Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 2015.

Earthquakes and God

Having said that, about all the not-so-good references to earthquakes, I need to point something out from Ezekiel. Here’s a note on the Hebrew word for earthquakes:

The Hebrew word for earthquake indicates a great noise or a tremendous roaring, suggesting that the Israelites were impressed with the rumbling connected with earthquakes.  ⁴Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Earthquake. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 647). Baker Book House.

That shouldn’t be surprising for those of us who’ve experienced our share of earthquakes. It’s not unusual to hear an earthquake before actually feeling it. Not a minor quake, but for one’s that at least medium strength.

Given that tidbit of information, can you find the spot where an earthquake is referenced in the passage below?

Ezekiel’s Call

Eze 2:1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

Eze 2:3 He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

Eze 2:9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

Eze 3:1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

Eze 3:3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

Eze 3:4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.”

Eze 3:10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

Eze 3:12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!— 13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—overwhelmed.

Did you find the reference to an earthquake? Did you read the whole passage? Yes, it is maybe a bit long. However, it’s very important when we get to the part about how can we be so right, but get it all so wrong!?

Anyway – it’s in verse 12:

Eze 3:12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!

Yeah – it’s the highlighted portion above. Most of you won’t have a translation that contains the word earthquake. This is one case where the literal translation of some words seems to cause a problem. The intent behind the original Hebrew words is lost.

The translation below is from Brenton’s Septuagint Translation. If you don’t have access to it, it’s available on biblehub.com, if you search for Ezekiel 3:12, then scroll down to the “Additional Translations …” link at the bottom of the left-hand column with common translations. It’s the very last translation in the rightmost column. For this particular verse, you use this link: https://biblehub.com/parallel/ezekiel/3-12.htm.

Eze 3:12 Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me the voice as of a great earthquake, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.  ⁵Brenton, L. C. L. (1870). The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament: English Translation (Eze 3:12). Samuel Bagster and Sons.

How can that be? How can these two translations be so different? And why do most of the modern translations not have “the voice as of a great earthquake“?

To be sure, some do, but not very many. For instance, the International Standard Version from 2011:

Eze 3:12 Then the Spirit lifted me up and I heard a great earthquake behind me and the glory of the LORD arose from his place …  ⁶International Standard Version (Eze 3:12). (2011). ISV Foundation.

As you can see, it’s good to have, and to read, multiple translations of the Bible to get the full meaning of what God’s trying to tell us about Himself and about us.

When is an earthquake not an earthquake?

Let’s take a closer look at 12 and thirteen. Notice the highlighted words in the images below.

From verse 12:

Notice the “.” between loud and rumbling.

From verse 13:

Notice there’s no “.” this time.

So why are both of them translated as “a loud rumbling sound”?

Why is the Hebrew word בָּרַךְ, בָּרַךְ [barak /baw·rak/] ⁷Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship. not translated?

There’s no indication in the image that the word is included with either “loud” or “rumbling”.

So what’s going on?

Is this word so trivial that it can be ignored?

No, it’s not trivial. Not at all. Here’s what it means, according to the 1288 in the image:

1288 בָּרַךְ, בָּרַךְ [barak /baw·rak/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 285; GK 1384 and 1385; 330 occurrences; AV translates as “bless” 302 times, “salute” five times, “curse” four times, “blaspheme” twice, “blessing” twice, “praised” twice, “kneel down” twice, “congratulate” once, “kneel” once, “make to kneel” once, and translated miscellaneously eight times. 1 to bless, kneel. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to kneel. 1A2 to bless. 1B (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself. 1C (Piel) to bless. 1D (Pual) to be blessed, be adored. 1E (Hiphil) to cause to kneel. 1F (Hithpael) to bless oneself. 2 (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse.  ⁸Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Given the format of the word in this verse, the highlighted text is the one to use. And it’s weird, isn’t it? How can a loud rumbling sound kneel? Is that why it’s not translated? Because a sound can’t kneel?

Well, before we assume that, and also assume leaving it out is OK – let’s dig deeper. Let’s look deeper at the ways this word is used. In this case, we see:

1385 II. בָּרַךְ (bā·rǎḵ): v.; ≡ Str 1288; TWOT 285—1. LN 33.470–33.475 (piel) bless another, commend, i.e., speak words invoking divine favor, with the intent that the object will have favorable circumstances or state at a future time (Ge 1:22); (qal pass.) be blessed (Ge 9:26); (nif) be blessed (Ge 12:3; 18:18; Ge 28:14+); (pual) be blessed (Nu 22:6); (hitp) be blessed, invoke a blessing (Ge 22:18; 26:4; Dt 29:18[EB 19]; Ps 72:17; Isa 65:16, 16; Jer 4:2+), see also domain LN 22.42–22.47; 2. LN 33.354–33.364 (piel) praise, extol, thank for greatness/goodness, i.e., speak words of the excellence of an object (Ps 63:5[EB 4]), note: usually used as an act of worship; (qal pass.) praise be (Ru 4:14); (pual) praise be (Job 1:21); 3. LN 33.11–33.25 (piel) greet, formally, bless, i.e., meet another with a positive verbal exchange, as a type of discourse (1Sa 13:10); 4. LN 33.470–33.475 (piel) curse, formally, bless, i.e., cause harm or injury by means of a statement, as a euphemism or ironic use with an opposite meaning of bless (1Ki 21:10, 13; Job 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9+)  ⁹Swanson, J. (1997). In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Earthquakes can be more than physical phenomena

So, what do we get when we put it all together? Rather than me trying to write something, there’s something from the Dictionary of Bible Imagery that does it quite nicely.

Some references to earthquakes appear to be bald statements of historic fact and seem to have little, if any, symbolic value (Amos 1:1, cf. Zech 14:5; Acts 16:26). Most references, however, particularly in the poetic parts of the Bible, accord a high degree of symbolism to earthquakes.

When we read the Bible, it can be very difficult to know what to do with some words. “Earthquakes” is certainly one of them. Especially when we have to infer an earthquake from the test we read.

For instance, if we don’t know about the Hebrew association between earthquakes and loud noises, how can we possibly know that a loud noise could mean an earthquake? Even then, how can we know, without further research, that there may be a relationship between an earthquake and God? Worse yet, without even more research, how are we to know that an important word might be left out of the translation we’re reading?

That’s part of what we can get from the Holy Spirit. I ask for guidance from Him as I do this. Without that, I’d never find out these things. Who has time to research every single word from the original text? I certainly don’t. I have to rely on a prompting to check things out. And it opens up a whole new world, giving so much more information about God and His Word.

To that end, let’s continue:

Earthquakes in Scripture are often seen as manifestations of the direct action of God’s power. The example that is probably alluded to most is the earthquake at the giving of the law at Sinai (Ex 19:18). In their poetic reviews of the Exodus, later writers seem to have emphasized this element (Ps 68:8; 77:18; 114:4–7) and broadened its scope to cover the whole exodus event. Matthew’s linkage of the earthquake at Jesus’ crucifixion with the rending of the temple veil (Mt 27:54) is thus far more than a statement of physical cause and effect: it is profoundly symbolic. The covenant inaugurated at Sinai is now ended. In Revelation at least some of the earthquake imagery relates back to Sinai (Bauckham).

The problem here is that “often” isn’t “always”. So, when we read something about earthquakes, we must determine whether they have anything to do with imagery about God. Or not. Language, as in the original Hebrew or Greek, is important. So is context. A simple read-through won’t do it.

But even then:

Although earthquake imagery is everywhere associated with God acting, the precise emphasis varies. A number of references invoke the imagery of God marching out to do battle (Judg 5:4; Ps 68:7–8; Joel 2:10–11; Mic 1:4; see Divine Warrior). Other references associate earthquakes with a theophany, a manifestation of God to the world (Ps 97:4–5; 99:1; Is 64:2–3). If there is any symbolism to do with the earthquake at Christ’s resurrection associated with the rolling back of the stone (Mt 28:2) it may lie in this area. Many other references refer to the shaking of the earth (often accompanied by wind and fire) when God judges the nations or the wicked (Is 13:13; 24:18–20; 29:6; Jer 10:10, Ezek 26:18; 38:19–20; Joel 3:16; Nahum 1:5–6). In this context the reference in 1 Kings 19:11 may be a symbolic way of suggesting that this was not a time of God’s judgment.

We’ll get to the associated imagery in the Ezekiel passage shortly. But first I’d like to finish this part of the analysis.

From this association of earthquakes with God’s revealing himself comes the substantial presence of this imagery in apocalyptic literature. Thus Hebrews, drawing on Haggai 2:6, looks forward to the final shaking of the heavens and the earth (Heb 12:26–27). Revelation, also drawing on the many references in Scripture, includes a number of references to earthquakes (Rev 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18–20). The fact that the area of the seven churches in western Turkey is prone to earthquakes (Laodicea, Sardis and Philadelphia suffered in the great earthquake in A.D. 17 and Laodicea was badly damaged in A.D. 60) must have heightened the imagery to the original hearers.

Apocalyptic literature – a popular, exciting, and confusing topic. And yet, also a very important one. But that’s for another day. (I’ll try to remember to add links here as I write related pieces.)

Earthquakes reminded men and women then as well as now that the only fixed ground is God himself. Not even the earth is ultimately stable. They also point to the fact that one day God will shake down all human kingdoms with the appearing of Christ in Glory (Zech 14:4–5).  ¹⁰Ryken, L., Wilhoit, J., Longman, T., Duriez, C., Penney, D., & Reid, D. G. (2000). In Dictionary of biblical imagery (electronic ed., p. 225). InterVarsity Press.

Are earthquakes a warning from God in Ezekiel 3?

The entire passage, “Ezekiel’s Call” is included above. I don’t want to go through the entire passage here. It’ll get way too long if I do. So I’m going to make a conclusion and ask you to return to read it – after it’s written. You can either check back from time to time – or subscribe to this site using the link towards the top right of the page (or towards the bottom if you’re on a cell phone).

There are three portions of the passage that answer the question, are earthquakes a warning from God to repent. The answer is a definitive maybe. Sorry – it’s true. It depends on where we are in the verses below from the passage:

Eze 2:9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

 

Eze 3:3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

 

4 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—overwhelmed.

Notice:

Conclusion – Are earthquakes a warning from God to repent?

So, are earthquakes a warning from God to repent?

Maybe. An earthquake might be a warning from God to repent. Or, it might be a reminder from God.

Let’s look again at one of the excerpts from above:

From this association of earthquakes with God’s revealing himself comes the substantial presence of this imagery in apocalyptic literature. Thus Hebrews, drawing on Haggai 2:6, looks forward to the final shaking of the heavens and the earth (Heb 12:26–27). Revelation, also drawing on the many references in Scripture, includes a number of references to earthquakes (Rev 8:5; 11:13, 19; 16:18–20). The fact that the area of the seven churches in western Turkey is prone to earthquakes (Laodicea, Sardis and Philadelphia suffered in the great earthquake in A.D. 17 and Laodicea was badly damaged in A.D. 60) must have heightened the imagery to the original hearers.

The seven churches in Revelation. Each of which had a letter from Jesus directed to it.

But all seven churches received all seven letters.

As such, while they were specifically warned of certain things in their own church, they were also made aware of other issues at other churches.

In other words, there was no ability to claim ignorance of a problem, whether it was a large one individually laid out by Jesus for one church, or a smaller one (for that church) which was identified as a large problem in a different church.

For more on the letters, please check out the series in the adjacent inset box.

What were the issues addressed to each of the seven churches in Revelation?

Church	Warning	Advice
Ephesus	Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.	If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Smyrna	(There will be suffering)	Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Pergamum	Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.	Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Thyatira	Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.	So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come.
Sardis	I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.	Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Philadelphia	(no warnings)	I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Laodicea	But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.	Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Final thoughts – Are earthquakes a warning from God to repent?

As you can see, for some, like those in the Church in Philadelphia, an earthquake from God is a reminder. A reminder to hold on. To hang on, until the end.

For others, as in everyone else, an earthquake can be a warning from God to repent.

Having said that, none of us is perfect. We all had things for which we needed to repent before we became Christians. And even as Christians, we’re still not perfect. We do have, and will continue to have sins for which we need to repent.

So maybe the word that should be used isn’t repent. Why not? Because the larger issue is about whether or not we’ve turned away from God.

Just in case someone feels like repentance is a one-time thing, only occurring when we get baptized, I want to point that out.

I also need to point out the severe difference between sinning against God and turning away from God. Also, the difference between thinking we’re Christian because of our own thoughts about Christianity – as opposed to knowing what God expects from us and trying to do those things.

No matter our situation, an earthquake for God has a wake-up call for us. The question is – do we even understand what the message is – whether it be a reminder that we’re about to go off the path – or a giant warning that we’re off the path and about to go over a cliff – we must understand the warning and act accordingly.

And guess what? If we think we’ve got nothing to be sorry about, nothing to be forgiven for, nothing to repent about – we’re maybe already over that cliff.

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