EARTHQUAKES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 40, 22 June 1929, Page 3

EARTHQUAKES

By PASTOR U R. HARVEY. The increase of devastating earthquakes and destructive storms which has been so marked during recent years, is set forth in the Scriptures as one of the signs of the last days. "There shall be ... . pestil-

inces, ami earthquakes in divers places." Matthew 24:7. Connected with the scenes of the last, days, Isaiah presents the following: "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the death is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a ' drunkard, and shall b c rernoved like a cottage. . . . and it shall fall, and shall not rise again." Isa. 24: 19-22. .i^T'feMi "FEARFUL SIGHTS?' "GREAT SIGNS."

All the men that are upon the face of the earth shall shake at Thy presence, and the mountains shall be'thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.". .

And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I

Will rain upon him. . . an oyer 7 flowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone." Ezekiel 38: 20-

These great signs were also prophesised by Joel: "I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire, and pillars of smoke." Joel 2: 30.

The prophecy of Christ, referred to above, as reported by Luke, is as follows: "Great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heave'n." Luke 21: 11:

Among the outstanding signs, therefore, which reveal .the nearness of the second coming of Christ will be great 'natural disturbances in the earth. From the passages quoted, those who are looking for their Lord's return will see in the growing travail and pain of the old wbrld while it is swatting for its redemption, sure evidences of the .'end. Constant reminders of the insecurity and instability of all earthly things are: "Fire and hail; snow and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word." Psalm 148: 8. These earthquakes, and pestilences, and destructive, storms, have bQen.on the rapid increase in number and yiolcnce during\ recent years. Time and again some of the earth has bQen moved as if by invisible hands. (Jriit jMQJogical convulsions have taken pi nee. TJj.e .earth, which orjUtuvily 1- s looked upon as the emblem cf solidity, trembles under men's i'coi. The British Association for the Advancement ,of Science has issued statistics on the number of earthquakes taking place in each century of the Christian era. One of the outstanding features of this statistical report is the remarkable increase of these upheavels during recent centuries. The statistics do not include small and insignificant earthquakes, but only those that hjave caiisad ,wyiespr'pad itiqn of lite and property. Beginning with fifteen in the first century, there is shown to be a gradual increase to 115 in the thirteenth century. From that time the list is as follows: —

Fourteenth century 137. Fifteenth century 174 Sixteenth century 253 Seventeenth century 378 Eighteenth century .; 640 Nineteenth century 2119 i Surely the prophecy of Christ is stringingly endorsed by these figures. In addition to earthquakes and storms of extraordinary destructive power, there have been tempests, tornadoes, hurricanes, "the sea and the waves roaring." Luke 21: 25. All these are becoming more and more common and more and more severe. They constitute the fulfilment of God's ancient predictions, and are precursors of. that great storm of His wrath which will bring an end to human history. Pestilences, waiting on the footSteps of famine, have also increased. The epidemic of Spanish influenza, a few years ago, slew miliums of people. The recurrence of these terrible epidemics, no advance of civilisation, no development of' BCience, seems able to prevent, even in the most highly developed countries. 'ln these things constantly taking place before our eyes we see the fulfilment of the prophecy of Christ and His word. The les'son which they are designed to teach was set forth by Jesus when He said: "Go likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that

the kingdom of God is nigh at hand'.' | Luke 21: 31. • i The poet John Biddolph says: "Who can with curious eyes this globe survey, ] And not behold it tottering with decay? All things created, God's designs / fulfill, And natural causes work His des- I tined will. i And that eternal Word, which can not' lie, To mortals hath revealed in prophecy. That in the<:;> letter days such signs shsil come, Preludes and prologues to the general doom, But not the Son of Man can tell the day; r I Then, lest it find you sleeping, watch I and pray."