WHY THE EARTHQUAKE? by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jun 6, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 22.

WHY THE EARTHQUAKE?

By G.

THE question, What causes earthquakes, is one that has engaged the attention of men for centuries. Various are the theories, and to the ordinary vision various are the causes of local disturbance of this kind. But God tells us of one yet future that will exceed all others in extent and severity, and He also tells us what will be the cause of it:

"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word. . . . The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa. 24:1-6.

Note that this is true, "for the Lord hath spoken this word." Now if the greatest earthquake that the earth ever has, or ever will, experience is caused by the transgression of God's law, then is it not possible that others are permitted for the same reason—whatever the immediate physical cause? This is especially probable because "earthquakes in divers places" are to precede the time of this great and destructive one. And the people of to-day should heed this fact, because the earthquake phenomena have been rapidly increasing in frequency within recent years. In this connection we quote a verse omitted in the foregoing scripture:

"And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him."

Was not this the case in San Francisco, where all classes were for a time on an equality? All were alike the objects of charity, the victims of desolation. Is it too much to say that this was a sign, a foretaste, of the devastation of the soon-coming general overthrow? Note further the specification of the prophecy, and its miniature likeness in the catastrophe that has just passed:

"All the merry-hearted do sigh. The mirth of tabreth ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in. There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction."

Surely the conditions in the stricken city by the Bay were enough to impress upon the reflective mind a serious contemplation of the greater fulfilment of the prophecy, when we shall see that "the earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly." And when "the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage," it will be realized that "the transgression is heavy upon it." There will be no more question as to what causes the earthquake. Then it will be demonstrated that "sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Let us praise God for the blessed hope of the believer: "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth." Isa. 24:17. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

Even the terrible earthquake has its merciful message of warning and invitation. Men are so engrossed in the mad rush for wealth, and position, and pleasure, that nothing short of the quaking, burning evidences of destruction can cause them to halt for even a moment's reflection.