The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-01-23

significant over against the fact Of great
loss of human life.
The estimate Of loss caused by earth
quakes is placed by authorities quoted IN
Chambers Encyclopedia at over 13,OOO,-
OOO
What we are concerned with in this
article is, whether we are to pass these
catastrophes with mediterranean whether
they bear on some important phases OF
Divine truths contained in the Word OF
God.
We can be sure at the outset that earth
quakes are not part Of the original plan
of God, for in the beginning all things
were good and perfect, and it cannot be
admitted that God would permit any such
catastrophes to interfere with mans
abode and operations, had man continued
in obedience to the commands of God, his
Creator
Sin, disobedience, rebellion on the part
of man are, therefore, the direct causes
for the earth bringing forth these agents
of destruction, which seem to have their
origin in the bottomless pit.
That the earth has been made to groan
as a consequence Of sin must be admitted
by all who see the different agencies of
destruction hurting ruin and desolation
in the face Of man. True, there are but
few incidents cited in the Bible in regard
to earthquakes, but these give us as the
solution Of these occurrences the fact that
sin is at the bottom Of Them and several
cases Of earthquakes, quoted in the Bible,
show that they have followed as a direct
result of sin and rebellion on the part of
individuals and companies Of evil-minded
men,
When Moses had brought out the chill
dren Of Israel from Egypt, there were
those who rebelled against his authority
and sought to withdraw the people from
his leadership Korah, Dathan, and
Abirim were the main conspirators, and
succeeded in causing two hundred fifty
|
commanded Moses to call out these con-
spirators and their company and make a
test case, by causing the earth to swallow
up these rebels in the camp Of Israel,
which resulted in the utter destruction
Of this entire company by an earthquake.
And Moses said, Hereby We shall know
Il. Il, I, Il 10 oil
works; for have not done them Of mine
own mind
If these men die the common death
of all men, or if they be visited after the
visitation of all men; then the Lord hath
not sent me.
''But if the Lord make new thing, and
the earth open her mouth, and swallow
them up, with all that appertain unto
them, and they go down quick into the
pit; then we shall understand that these
men have provoked the Lord.
And it came to pass, as he had made
an end of speaking all these words, that
the ground clave asunder that was under
them:
"And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and
all the men that appertained unto Korah,
and all their goods Numbers 16 1882.
Another earthquake as result Of sin
was that in the case Of Uzziah, who was
determined to burn incense upon the altar
Of God, and, in the face Of open resistance
on the part Of eighty men, pressed for
ward with his censor and was suddenly
smitten with leprosy, going to his grave
as leper. No doubt it was on account
Of this terrible rebellion that an earth
quake Of great magnitude was sent over
the land Of Palestine. (Amos 1 Il,
Zechariah 14:5.)
Another incident of a terrible earth
quake was that at the time of Christ s
crucifxion, at which time the earth
quaked, the veil of the temple was rent,
and also the rocks around about Jerusa-
lem Matthew 81 81. This earthquake,
no doubt, was sent as a direct reproof of
the Almighty to cause, at least, the cen
turion to realize the awful crime which
had been committed, and then and there
give the world the first direct testimony
of the heather world, saying, "Truly this
was the Son Of God" (Matthew 81 3D.
It is also interesting to note from the
Word Of God the use that God can make