The Bible gives us the answers as to why we experience earthquakes.
A rare 4.7 earthquake occurred on 4/5/24 on the east coast of the United States hitting NJ, PA, and NYC.
The epicenter was "White House NJ."
You can't make this up.
The first earthquake is recorded in Genesis 10:25 (NKJV) "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan."
In Genesis 14:13, the first recorded use of the word "Hebrew" is located.
h5677. עֵבֶר ‘êḇer; the same as 5676; Eber, the name of two patriarchs and four Israelites: — Eber, Heber.
AV (15) - Eber 13, Heber 2; Eber or Heber = "the region beyond"
Abram was told by the Lord to leave from Ur of the Chaldees (Babylon or modern day Iraq), and his father, and go to a land (Canaan) that He would give to Abram's descendants.
Abram left from "the region beyond."
But first, the name "Peleg" has an interesting definition.
The very first Biblically recorded earthquake in human history took place when the earth was divided into the present continents in Genesis 10:25.
Along with the current fault lines around the globe (see USGS.gov).
Again, in Genesis 10:25 (NKJV)
"To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan."
Remember. "Eber" in Hebrew means.....
h5677. עֵבֶר ‘êḇer; the same as 5676; Eber, the name of two patriarchs and four Israelites: — Eber, Heber.
AV (15) - Eber 13, Heber 2; Eber or Heber = "the region beyond"
and "Hebrew," in Genesis 14:13 means.....
h5680. עִבְרִי ‘iḇrîy; patronymic from 5677; an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber: — Hebrew(-ess, woman).
AV (34) - Hebrew 29, Hebrew woman 2, Hebrew + h0376 1, Hebrewess 1, Hebrew man 1; Hebrew = "one from beyond" n pr
a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites adja designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites.
The name "Peleg" means in Hebrew.......
h6389. פֶּלֶג p̱eleg̱; the same as 6388; earthquake; Peleg, a son of Shem: — Peleg.
AV (7) - Peleg 7; Peleg = "division"
son of Eber and brother of Joktan
The word "divided" in Hebrew means......
h6385. פָּלַג p̱âlag̱; a primitive root; to split (literally or figuratively): — divide.
AV (4) - divide 4;
to divide, split (Niphal) to be split, be divided (Piel) to split, cleave to divide.
and "Joktan" in Hebrew means.....
h3355. יָקְטָן yoqṭân; from 6994; he will be made little; Joktan, an Arabian patriarch: — Joktan.
AV (6) - Joktan 6; Joktan = "smallness"
son of Eber and descendant of Shem and patriarch of various Arabian tribes.
Great earthquakes.
Matthew 24:4-8 (NKJV) "And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
Keep in mind "the beginning of sorrows."
Luke 21:7-11 (NKJV) "So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.
But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”
Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."
Part of the fearful sights is the asteroids and solar wind driven flares from the sun.
Earthquakes definitely occurred before the prophetic word that came from the Lord during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus.
Take note that this earthquake today (4/5/24) took place before the solar eclipse that's scheduled to take place on 4/8/24.
The next time that we see in the Bible a great earthquake is in Exodus 19:18 (NKJV)
"Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly."
The word "quaked" is from the Hebrew word "ḥâraḏ; it's a primitive root; to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety): — be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble."
Then we have the story with Elijah.
1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) "Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.”
And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD,
but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."
The word "earthquake" is h7494. רַעַשׁ ra‘aš; from 7493; vibration, bounding, uproar: — commotion, confused noise, earthquake, fierceness, quaking, rattling, rushing, shaking.
In Isaiah 1:1 (NKJV) "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
In Amos 1:1 (NKJV) "The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
The word "earthquake" In the Hebrew is h7494. רַעַשׁ ra‘aš; from 7493; vibration, bounding, uproar: — commotion, confused noise, earthquake, fierceness, quaking, rattling, rushing, shaking.
Same Hebrew word translated in 1 Kings 19.
Then the rest of the earthquakes as seen in the Scriptures.
In Zechariah 14:5 The earthquake during the great tribulation period.
In Matthew 27:50 The after affects of the death of Christ.
In Acts 4:23 Earthquake after persecution.
In Acts 16:23 Paul & Silas.
In Revelation 6:12 Earthquake as judgment.
In Revelation 8:5 Earthquake before the Trumpets.
In Revelation 11:13 Earthquake in Jerusalem during the great tribulation period.
The great tribulation starts in the middle of the week according to the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:21 (NKJV) "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be."
It's confirmed in Jeremiah 30:4-7 (NKJV) "Now these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah.
“For thus says the LORD:
‘We have heard a voice of trembling,
Of fear, and not of peace.
Ask now, and see,
Whether a man is ever in labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins
Like a woman in labor,
And all faces turned pale?
Alas! For that day is great,
So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,
But he shall be saved out of it."
It's also confirmed in Daniel 12:1-3 (NKJV) “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever."
In Revelation 11:19 Even in heaven there was an earthquake.
In Revelation 16:17 An earthquake not felt before. Seventh Bowl.
In Hebrews 12:25 Shaking earth and heaven.
Finally, remember that I've said to keep in mind "the beginning of sorrows?"
The word "sorrows" in Matthew 24 means "birth pangs."
Romans 8:18-25 (NKJV) "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."
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