What seismologists call a great earthquake, one of 8.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale, has hit the coastline of Japan causing a catastrophic tsunami in Japan and affecting more than 20 Pacific Rim nations bringing about much death and destruction. The initial earthquake, felt as far away from the epicenter of the quake as Beijing, China, brought with it a tsunami with waves over 20 feet high and traveling at around 500 miles per hour which is a natural disaster and in the early stages hitting the coast of Japan with no advanced warning.
Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News
The latest earthquake off the coast of Japan not only caused mass destruction and death but it is a tangible evidence that we are coming close to the end times scenario that can be found in Bible prophecy. Reports are still coming in and will continue to do so revealing the amount of death and destruction that has happened as a result of the massive earthquake and the tsunami that followed originating just off the coast of Japan. People along the coastline of Japan and in fact the more than 20 nations effected by the tsunami, these people have been eyewitness to what can happen in a matter of hours and in fact in some places a matter of minutes, a result of natures destructive capability. This most recent earthquake in Japan is the greatest earthquake in that nations history and the seventh most powerful earthquake ever recorded in history.
The word "earthquake" is used 19 times in the Bible, 13 times in the prophetic passages of the Word of God. In the Olivet Discourse, the most profound prophetic message ever given, a message preached by Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives three days before He was crucified, when the Lord said that earthquakes in many different places would be a sign of His Second Coming (Matthew 24:7). In the prophetic book of Revelation, the word "earthquake" is used seven times between Revelation 6 - 16. The great earthquake in Revelation 6:12 is the sixth seal judgment happening in the first half of the seven year Tribulation period. Near the midway point of the Tribulation, there will be a number of earthquakes that cause great damage and death and they are foretold in Revelation 8:5 and 11:13,19. The greatest earthquake to ever hit the earth will happen at the end of the Tribulation period when Babylon, modern day Iraq, will be destroyed (Revelation 16:18).
The recent earthquake off the coast of Japan is indeed evidence that Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.
