The Great Earthquake Revelation 11:13

John the apostle shared how God said, “I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. ” In chapter eleven and verse thirteen of Revelation John shared how, “the same hour there was a great earthquake” where we read:

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were frightened, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The verse reads, “And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, ...” John began with the words, “at the same hour” which means “within the same definite time, moment and hour” “there was a great” or “there occurred a massive, intense and abundant” “earthquake” which refers to “tempest, commotion of the ground and shaking of the earth”, “and the tenth part” which means “and one tenth” “of the city” or “of the town and abode of the two witnesses which was Jerusalem” “fell” which means “was thrust down and descended from a higher place to a lower”. After the “two witnesses” rose to “heaven in a cloud”, a massive quaking of the “earth” began and one tenth of Jerusalem “was thrust down”.

The verse goes on to say, “and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were frightened, and gave glory to the God of heaven.” John continued with the words, “and in the earthquake” which means “and within the tempest, commotion of the ground and shaking of the earth” “were slain” or “were destroyed, extinguished, abolished and inflicted with mortal death” “of men seven thousand” which means “seven thousand people”: “and the remnant” or “and the rest of the people who were left in the city” “were frightened” which means “were thrown into fear, afraid and terrified”, “and gave glory” or “and granted, supplied, furnished and delivered splendor, brightness, preeminence, honor, grace and majesty” “to the God” which refers to “toward the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “of heaven” or “of the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. John watched as the “earthquake” killed “seven thousand” people, frightened the remainder of them and watched as they “honored” God Almighty.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see this awesome response to the rising of the “two witnesses” into heaven. God will allow an “earthquake” which not only destroyed one tenth of Jerusalem and will kill seven thousand people, but also causes the remainder of the people within the city to “give glory to” Him. God does not delight in destroying people or cities, however, if they reject a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, woe be to those who shall endure not only the “earthquakes” allowed by Him, but also His judgment poured out upon them.

Next time John shares how “the second woe is past” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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