In the year 1015 A.D., in the month of September, an earthquake caused the collapse of the Dome of the Rock.
There is scant information about this earthquake, but it interesting to note that the 1,000 year anniversary is in slightly less than 3 years.
It is also recorded that it was badly damaged by another earthquake on July 11th in 1927.
The Bible has a prediction about the most powerful earthquake yet to come.
Revelation 16: 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.
Here's a list of the ten most deadly earthquakes up until now. Certainly up until the great earthquake seen in Revelation 16.
1: Shensi, China, Jan. 23, 1556
Magnitude about 8, about 830,000 deaths.
2: Tangshan, China, July 27, 1976
Magnitude 7.5. Official casualty figure is 255,000 deaths. Estimated death toll as high as 655,000.
3: Aleppo, Syria, Aug. 9, 1138
Magnitude not known, about 230,000 deaths.
4: Sumatra, Indonesia, Dec. 26, 2004
Magnitude 9.1, 227,898 deaths.
5: Haiti, Jan 12, 2010
Magnitude 7.0. According to official estimates, 222,570 people killed.
6: Damghan, Iran, Dec. 22, 856
Magnitude not known, about 200,000 deaths.
7: Haiyuan, Ningxia , China, Dec. 16, 1920
7.8 magnitude, about 200,000 deaths.
8: Ardabil, Iran, March. 23, 893
Magnitude not known, about 150,000 deaths.
9: Kanto, Japan, Sept. 1, 1923
7.9 magnitude, 142,800 deaths.
10: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 5, 1948
7.3 magnitude, 110,000 deaths.
(source: msnbc.com)
Living near the New Madrid fault as I do, here's a range of dates and magnitudes of past earthquakes for my neighborhood.
1. Dec 16th, 1811.
Magnitude 7.7.
2. January 12, 1812.
Magnitude 7.5.
3. February 7th, 1812.
Magnitude 7.7.
(source: usgs.gov)
Anniversary dates for earthquakes are highly unreliable for predicting future quakes. All we can be sure of is that more will come. Since I can't draw any conclusions or make any predictions, let me quote three comforting passages from the New King James...
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Hebrews 12:
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
I guess the lesson is to trust and love God and have a godly fear, but don't love wordly things or trust the ground!
YBIC
Bruce Baber