Five Earthquakes in Revelation

The first earthquake that we see is during the sixth seal. From our studies we have seen that the sixth seal is one of three places in the Revelation where the Rapture is recorded. In verses 9-11 the fifth seal is opened revealing the very tail end of the Tribulation, where the last of those saints who will be slain during the Tribulation are slain, and then the skies go dark before the appearing of Jesus in the clouds. This rendering of events does not describe the appearing of Jesus, but we can be assured that He does appear out of the darkness. In verses 16 and 17 the wicked of the earth are the ones who declare what day it is. They knew it was coming and now it is here. The Day of the Lord. The day when Jesus comes after the Tribulation and gathers His saints before the Wrath of God can begin.

(We must always keep in mind that each different rendering of a particular event or series of events is generally written from a different perspective and using different wording, but expressing the very same thing. Each different version of the event adds some detail to the overall picture, or understanding of the event by expressing it in different terms. This is not only true when it comes to prophecy, but in reading and understanding any subject in the Bible.)

This first earthquake occurs on the Day of the Lord, after the Tribulation of those days, when Jesus swoops in on a cloud to catch away His people, thus leaving the rest of the world to suffer the Wrath of God. Because this earthquake is happening on the day of the Resurrection, it may be the result of the earth rumbling as it gives up the dead saints who are raised to life again so as to participate in the Rapture with those who are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord.

Revelarion 6

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The next earthquake happens almost immediately after the first. It occurs in the very next seal which reveals the Wrath of God. We must remember at this point that the full extent of the Wrath of God is revealed under this seal. The seven trumpet judgments, and by extension the seven parallel vials of wrath are included under this seal. The Wrath of God lasts seven years and the opening of this seal only marks the very beginning of that wrath. The saints have just arrived in heaven in the verses that precede Revelation 8, and now, even before the trumpets or vials begin to be released, there is another earthquake. This one is in response to the golden censer that is cast to the earth. The throwing of that censer and the prayers that it contains represents God’s anger over the way His chosen and righteous saints have been treated throughout time. The earth and the atmosphere are convulsing with the rage of God before His true wrath even begins.

Revelation 8

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Verse 6 above confirms that the seven angels are only preparing to sound after the second earthquake occurs. In the passage below we find ourselves in the midst of the sixth trumpet judgment, (which is the second woe) and the seventh trumpet is about to sound. At the very end of the sixth trumpet judgment the two witnesses are slain. After 3.5 days they are raised to life again and taken into heaven in a cloud in the sight of all. In the same hour the third earthquake shakes the earth and destroys a tenth part of Babylon.

Revelation 11

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

So far everything has been occurring in chronological order. The first earthquake occurred under the sixth seal of the heavenly book of Revelation. The second occurred under the seventh seal before the trumpets and vials are released. the third is at the end of the sixth trumpet. And now the fourth is shown to be a part of the seventh trumpet. The seventh trumpet declares that the end of God’s punishment has come to an end and that He is about to turn things around and give His servants charge of the earth. The Battle of Armageddon is not described here, but that is what is about to happen. Before that happens though, the fourth earthquake shakes the earth.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The earthquake that we just witnessed under the seventh trumpet is described a second time under the seventh vial. It is the very same earthquake. Even the voices and thunderings and lightnings and great hail are the same. Under the vials we learn that Babylon is divided into three parts and the cities throughout the rest of the world are thrown down. Again the Battle of Armageddon is not yet described, but the sixth vial shows us the lead up to the battle. The Euphrates is dried up to make the way clear for the armies of the east and the demon spirits go out to draw the kings and their armies to Armageddon. Armageddon happens after this fourth and final earthquake that is recorded twice; once under the seventh trumpet and then again under the seventh vial. Revelation 19 is where we see the battle in the pages of the Revelation, but is recorded several times in more detail in the other Prophets.

Revelation 16

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Conclusion:

We see five recordings of earthquakes in Revelation but only four actual occurrences when you realize that the final trumpet and vial are speaking of the same earthquake.

The first occurs at the Rapture.

The second occurs right after the saints are raptured and situated in heaven. After we have had an initial time of thanking and worshipping God the second earthquake will occur just before the first plague of wrath is released.

The Third earthquake occurs after the two witnesses are raptured into heaven.

The fourth earthquake takes place after all of the Wrath of God is completed except for the Battle of Armageddon. When Jesus returns to the earth with His saints, the wrath ends and the reign begins.