IS THE CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE A SIGNAL TO CHRIST'S CHURCH?
2010–2011 earthquakes
[edit]September 2010
Main article: 2010 Canterbury earthquake
An earthquake with magnitude 7.1 occurred in the South Island, New Zealand at Saturday 04:35 am local time, 4 September 2010 (16:35 UTC, 3 September 2010).[10] The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.0 miles), and there were no fatalities.
The epicentre was located 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Christchurch; 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south-east of Darfield;[11] 190 kilometres (120 mi) south-southeast of Westport; 295 kilometres (183 mi) south-west of Wellington; and 320 kilometres (200 mi) north-northeast of Dunedin.
Sewers were damaged,[12] gas and water lines were broken, and power to up to 75% of the city was disrupted.[13] Among the facilities impacted by lack of power was the Christchurch Hospital, which was forced to use emergency generators in the immediate aftermath of the quake.[13]
A state of emergency was declared at 10:16 am on 4 September for the city, and evacuations of parts were planned to begin later in the day.[14] People inside the Christchurch city centre were evacuated, and the city's central business district remained closed until 5 September .[15] A curfew from 7 pm on 4 to 7 September am on 5 September was put in place.[16] The New Zealand Army was also deployed to assist police and enforce the curfew. All schools were closed until 8 September so they could be checked.
Christchurch International Airport was closed following the earthquake and flights in and out of it cancelled. It reopened at 1:30 pm following inspection of the main runway.[17]
The earthquake was reported to have caused widespread damage and power outages. 63 aftershocks were also reported in the first 48 hours with three registering 5.2 magnitude. Christchurch residents reported chimneys falling in through roofs, cracked ceilings and collapsed brick walls.[18] Total Earthquake Commission, insurance and individual costs may reach as high as NZ$4 billion according to the New Zealand Treasury.[19][20]
[edit]February 2011
Main article: 2011 Christchurch earthquake
An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred on 22 February 2011. It was centred on Lyttelton 10 kilometers south of Christchurch and at a depth of 5 km.[21]
In contrast to the September 2010 quake, the 6.3-magnitude quake struck on a busy weekday afternoon. At least 75 people were killed,[22] and hundreds injured.
Many buildings were severely damaged, including the iconic ChristChurch Cathedral.
Ist Quake:
Incredible as it is, there was NO fault at or near Christchurch, New Zealand, prior to the recent massive 7.0 quake!!
Instead, it is widely reported that this huge quake actually"ripped a new fault line in the Earth's surface".
Everyone knows the basic mechanics of earthquakes and that they occur due to slippage of faults, at fault lines.
So it is well realized that earthquakes originate from the sudden movements of the earth's tectonic plates, close to the earth's surface, along zones of pre-existing weakness called faults.
As such, great earthquakes are associated with major faults (cracks) in the crust. When the faults are locked tightly together, the strain accumulates without producing earthquakes. When the faults relax, the rocks slip and shake the earth.
Incredible as it is, there was NO fault at or near Christchurch, New Zealand, prior to the recent massive 7.0 quake!! Instead, it is widely reported that this huge quake actually"ripped a new fault line in the Earth's surface".
"New Zealand Quake Rips New Fault."
"The powerful earthquake that smashed buildings, cracked roads and twisted rail lines around the New Zealand city of Christchurch also ripped a new fault line in the Earth's surface, a geologist said Sunday".
"Earth's surface 'lurches 11ft to the right' as New Zealand earthquake rips new fault line".
"The earthquake that devastated a city in New Zealand tore open a new 11ft fault line in the Earth’s surface."
"The 7.1-magnitude quake which hit Christchurch, the country’s second-largest city, destroyed about 500 buildings and caused an estimated £930million of damage."
"Miraculous"
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, "who visited earthquake-stricken parts of the country's South Island over the weekend, said 430 houses and another 70 buildings had already been earmarked for demolition by assessment teams."
"About 100,000 of the 160,000 homes in the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri areas had sustained some damage, he added."
"I was awe-struck by the power of the earthquake and the damage it has caused in the city," he told reporters. "It was miraculous that nobody was killed."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11191105
The scientific awareness of normal plate tectonics as the cause of earthquakes, gives deeper meaning to the supernatural significance of this recent 7.0 quake in Christchurch, New Zealand.
As reported, the earth's surface just "lurched" and ripped a new fault line.
This event is surely phenomenal and shows the handprint of God as the crust just ripped open, while sparing the lives of the entire populace of the city.
As the Prime Minister stated "It was "miraculous that nobody was killed".
Even though there were more than 100,000 buildings suffering damage and more than 500 structures so severely damaged that they are slated for demolition, there were no casualties.
This is another factor that is surely confounding the experts. What are the chances that out of more than 500 buildings being destroyed at 4:35 am when most residents would be at home,sleeping, that no lives would be lost?
Only two people out of the city's 348,400 residents sustained serious injuries even though "When the earthquake finally ended the city looked like a scene from a horror film".
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world-news/when-the-earthquake-finally-ended-the-city-looked-like-a-scene-from-a-horror-film-1.1052928
"Only two serious injuries were reported from the quake as chimneys and walls of older buildings were reduced to rubble and crumbled to the ground. Prime Minister John Key said it was a miracle no one was killed."
God mercifully allowed none to perish and only two to be seriously injured with this sign that He has surely presented to us.
Apparently, God used the city named CHRISTCHURCH in which it was scientifically impossible to experience an earthquake.
It therefore appears evident that the God of Heaven rippedopen the crust because previously there was NO FAULT LINE at or near Christchurch New Zealand, but there is now!
Research on the other "Christchurch" city on our globe, which is in Barbados, shows that it IS on a fault line.
So, the difference between the two is that the Christchurch in Barbados is on a fault line whereas Christchurch, New Zealand was not.
It appears that the Lord purposefully used the "Christchurch" where an earthquake was impossible according to plate tectonics, so as to prove it was His intervention.
Interesting to note, New Zealand's main commercial activity is the raising of sheep.
The fact that sheep are representative of New Zealand further evidences the strong possibility that this is a signal from the Lord to His sheep, the flock of Jesus Christ!
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
When the disciples questioned Jesus about His coming and the end of the age Jesus answered them: "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man" Matthew 24:37
This verse has perplexed many, resulting in various interpretations. If we review the Scripture, we see in Genesis that Noah's ark was shut by God and it was SEVEN daysbefore the flood started.
Because of this fact, many Bible prophecy scholars have theorized that there will be a warning seven days prior to the Rapture and the subsequent beginning of the "flood" of Tribulation events.
Genesis 7
The Great Flood
1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. 2 You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; 3 also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” 5And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him. 6 Noah wassix hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth.
7 So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, of animals that areunclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, 9 two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth....16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.
7 So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, of animals that areunclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, 9 two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth....16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.
Note that the chapter in Genesis describing the days of Noah is Chapter 7. The Christchurch earthquake was a 7.0 magnitude and it occurred, Israeli time, 7 days before Rosh Hashanah.
Rosh Hashanah is God's appointed feast day that most prophecy students and Messianic rabbis believe it to be representative of the Rapture of the Church.
The number seven is the Biblical number of completion. God, with all the astonishing events outlined above, may be signaling the completion of the Church Age to those who have been watching and are aware that Rosh Hashanah coincides with the Rapture!
Please see the following website for an elaboration on God's perfect number being the number, 7 :
http://www.angelfire.com/az/rainbowbridge/seven.html
Now, we will delve into the significance of this possible seven day warning ending with the celebration of the feast of Rosh Hashanah.
The first thing that Christ-followers need to realize is that God's feast days that He outlined in the Torah, represent God's plan of redemption, compromising both His first and second coming.
Jesus has already fulfilled all the Spring Feast days with His first coming.
The upcoming Fall feast days represent the Rapture, His Second Coming and the Millennial period.
The next feast day to be fulfilled would be the first Fall festival, Rosh Hashanah.
The upcoming Fall feast days represent the Rapture, His Second Coming and the Millennial period.
The next feast day to be fulfilled would be the first Fall festival, Rosh Hashanah.
It is important to remember that the feast days are NOT just Jewish feast days but are God's feast days. In the book of Leviticus, God stressed that they are HIS feast days.
Leviticus 23:
1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies .So, the festival (feast) days belong to the Lord Himself. His followers, Jew and Gentile are to keep them.
If the Church had been observing God's feast days then they would have realized that His return for His own would come one Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Teruah.
It is noteworthy to realize that Rosh Hashanah has several different titles, all referring to the same festival.
It is also known as Yom Teruah,or the Feast of Trumpets. These titles, as well as other names for this important festival, will be used interchangeably throughout this entry.
The Jewish idiom for God's feast day of Yom Teruah, is the feast "of which no man knows the day or the hour".
Due to the dispersion of the Jewish people from their land in ancient days, the feast of the new moon/Yom Teruah could have been over before word of the sighting of the new moon spread to those dispersed in Babylon.
Therefore, Rosh Hashanah was celebrated as a two day festival but recognized as one long day. It is the only feast day that begins at the sighting of the new moon by two witnesses in Jerusalem.
Because of this, no one could know for certain, beforehand, the day or hour of the beginning of the feast of Yom Teruah.
Bear in mind that Yeshua (Jesus)was Jewish, speaking to His Jewish disciples when He used this well known Jewish idiom:
Matt. 24: 36“ No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Just as in American culture, one would know that if someone informed them that they would visit them on "Turkey Day'" that they were indicating Thanksgiving.
In the same manner, the Scripture indicates that our Jewish Savior was referring to the well known 2 day feast of Yom Teruah/"on a day or hour that no man knows" (which is also an idiom of this feast being representative of the Jewish Wedding).
"Of that day or hour no man knows, but my Father only" is the expression used by a Jewish groom when asked when he will go and steal away his bride "like a thief in the night".
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
The Jewish groom (representing Jesus) goes away to prepare a place for his bride. When preparations on the bridal chamber are completed, the father of the groom (representing our Heavenly Father)tells his son it is time to fetch his bride.
The Feast of Trumpets is also known as the "wedding of the Messiah", and therefore, the expression about "not knowing the day or the hour" refers to the Jewish wedding custom in relation to this feast.
Believers are the Bride of Christ for whom the Bridegroom, Yeshua, (Jesus) will one day come to take to His Father's House, at the time of the Rapture.
Therefore, it is clear that the Rapture must take place on a Feast of Trumpets/the wedding of the Messiah.
Remember Jesus's assurance to us, His Bride:
Matthew 14:1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.a If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?b 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
Thus, it can easily be seen how this feast day represents the Rapture, as the Bride of Christ, we are caught up in the air to be with the Lord and to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The title, Yom Teruah, means Day of Trumpets in Hebrew. There is the blowing of 100 shofar blasts towards the very end of the celebration of this feast.
The one hundredth and last blast is called "THE LAST TRUMP".
Just as Jesus was Jewish speaking to a Jewish audience so was Paul, as a Jew, relating the well known Jewish name for the last shofar blast blown ending the Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
On The Feast of Trumpets, the challah, or special bread, is baked into the shape of a circle, representing a crown.
It is on this day that the coronation of the King is to occur and the King which we know to be Yeshua Ha Mashiach, is to be enthroned on this festival/feast day. The shofar is blown during the coronation of a king.
As such, it can be seen that one day, on a Yom Teruah, (which means the "day of blowing") that the shofars will be blown announcing the coronation of King Jesus!
The thirty days prior to Yom Teruah are the month of Elul. Daily during this month, leading up to Rosh Hashanah, we are supposed to reflect on our lives because God's judgment is coming on Rosh Hashanah.
The message from Elul 1 to Rosh Hashanah is clear: Repent before Rosh Hashanah. Don’t wait until after Rosh Hashanah, or you will find yourself in the Days of Awe.
The Days of Awe are the seven days in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement.
These 7 days represent the 7 year Tribulation period and The Day of Atonement represents the Second Coming of Jesus.
God is so loving and merciful that He gave us each year, 30 days to search our hearts and repent prior to what one year will be the Rapture on a Yom Teruah.
God is so loving and merciful that He gave us each year, 30 days to search our hearts and repent prior to what one year will be the Rapture on a Yom Teruah.
Another name for Rosh Hashanah is Yom HaDin which means Day of Judgment. The Jewish people believe that on Rosh Hashanah the"books” are opened in heaven.
There are three books opened - that of life, for those whose works had been good; another of death, for those who had been thoroughly evil; and a third, intermediate.
Those classified as intermediate are those whose case will be decided on the Day of Atonement (seven days after Rosh Hoshanna on Yom Kippur).
The delay is granted for true repentance, which without, their names would be finally entered, into the book of of death.
For those who truly repent and forgive others, their names will be entered into the book of Life.
For those who truly repent and forgive others, their names will be entered into the book of Life.
The opening of the books on Rosh Hashanah signifies the judgment of mankind wherein the righteous will be taken in the Rapture and the intermediates and wicked will be left behind to face the 7 year Tribulation.
The intermediates are those who Jesus called lukewarm and warned He would "vomit" them out of His mouth.
Revelation 3:15-17
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[a] I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Recognizing this, all professing Christians need to make sure their focus is on the things of God instead of the world:
Revelation 3: 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
Rosh Hashanah is also known as Yom HaKeseh (Day of the Hiding or Hidden Day) which one may translate into the raptured Bride of Christ being "hidden" in Heaven during the cataclysmic events of the 7 year Tribulation (correlating with the 7 days of Awe).
One of the reasons for blowing the shofar is to proclaim the resurrection of the dead. Jewish thought is that the resurrection of the dead will take place on a Rosh Hashanah.
In addition, this feast is also known as the Day of the Awakening Blast or The Day of the Awakening Shout.
1 Thes 4:15-18 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not preventthem which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The blast of the shofar and the shout of the Lord will one day awaken those who now sleep.
With the dead in Christ, those who are alive and truly belong to the risen Lord, will be "caught up together with them into the clouds" into glorified bodies and everlasting life.
Also, the gates of Heaven are understood to be opened on Rosh Hashanah.
As such, it is further evidence that the Rapture of the believers in Christ will take place on a Rosh Hashanah when the gates of Heaven are open, in which we may enter in.
The time of sorrows (birth pains) have been steadily growing stronger and closer together just as Jesus prophesied they would as the time of the end drew near.
With the dead in Christ, those who are alive and truly belong to the risen Lord, will be "caught up together with them into the clouds" into glorified bodies and everlasting life.
Also, the gates of Heaven are understood to be opened on Rosh Hashanah.
As such, it is further evidence that the Rapture of the believers in Christ will take place on a Rosh Hashanah when the gates of Heaven are open, in which we may enter in.
The time of sorrows (birth pains) have been steadily growing stronger and closer together just as Jesus prophesied they would as the time of the end drew near.
Matthew 24:6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Therefore, we can be able to recognize how close to the end we are on God's prophetic timeline.
This recent 7.0 earthquake in CHRISTCHURCH was scientifically improbable as there was no fault line until the crust ripped open and formed one.
The fact that there were NO casualties and ONLY 2 serious injuries even though more than 500 buildings were destroyed and 100,000 homes suffered damaged (in a city with a population of 348,400) is definitely nothing short of being miraculous.
As the Prime Minister of New Zealand so aptly summarized:
The hour is growing late. We are at the end of the age and our Lord is returning.
We will soon know whether or not it is THIS Rosh Hashanah, as we are but days away.
If there is any uncertainty of our standing with God, we need to repent and draw near to Him, asking to be accounted worthy to escape the wrath to come.
This recent 7.0 earthquake in CHRISTCHURCH was scientifically improbable as there was no fault line until the crust ripped open and formed one.
The fact that there were NO casualties and ONLY 2 serious injuries even though more than 500 buildings were destroyed and 100,000 homes suffered damaged (in a city with a population of 348,400) is definitely nothing short of being miraculous.
As the Prime Minister of New Zealand so aptly summarized:
"It was a miracle no one was killed".
This all happening SEVEN days before Rosh Hashanah indeed appears to be a miracle as well as a sign from God to those who are watching. The hour is growing late. We are at the end of the age and our Lord is returning.
We will soon know whether or not it is THIS Rosh Hashanah, as we are but days away.
If there is any uncertainty of our standing with God, we need to repent and draw near to Him, asking to be accounted worthy to escape the wrath to come.
Luke 21:36 Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
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