The death toll from the earthquake that struck Indonesia on Wednesday has continued to rise, bringing the total to 17 dead and 88 injured. The initial quake, which measured 8.4 on the Richter Scale, has been followed by around 40 large tremors within the past few days leaving residents of Sumatra panic stricken for fear that another big earthquake may occur. A similar situation occurred just prior to the earthquake that triggered the Asian tsunami on December 26th, 2004. Rather than releasing pressure between the earth's tectonic plates, earthquakes simply transfer it to another place on the map. Due to this fact, seismologists are expecting another major earthquake in the not too distant future, which will transfer pressure that has built up following the 2004 earthquake... 

Quote: "Experts have been predicting a repeat of the monster temblor that triggered the 2004 Asian tsunami, killing more than 230,000 people in a dozen nations. American Kerry Sieh, who has spent decades studying the fault along Sumatra island, said the new jolts could be leading up to the big one. "No one can say whether it will be in 30 seconds or 30 years," he said, adding the recent developments made him nervous. "But my intuition tells me it will be sooner rather than later."

The earthquake of December 2004 was one of the largest the world has ever witnessed. It measured around 9-10 on the Richter Scale and lasted for around 10 minutes. The earthquake caused the whole planet to wobble on its axis. Islands in Indonesia to move by around 20 metres. It created a 900 mile long gash in the ocean floor, altering the earth's magnetic field. A wave of water moving at around 500mph slammed into a dozen surrounding nations, killing around 250,000 people, whole villages being wiped off the map. 

Quote: "On Dec. 26, 2004 at 1:58 a.m. Central European Time, the South Asian Plate couldn't withstand the tension any longer: an edge of the plate broke off and the rest of the plate jerked upwards. With a magnitude of 9.3, it was the strongest earthquake anywhere in the world in the last 40 years. From the northern tip of Sumatra, a 1,300 kilometre long rip in the Earth's surface suddenly appeared. A deep gash raced northwards at a speed of 2.5 kilometers per second, and the ocean floor instantly raised 15 meters. The thrust created the monster tsunami -- a wave which caused terrible damage even thousands of kilometers away. The tremors shook the entire globe. Like a rug being shaken out, Sri Lanka rose and fell fully nine centimetres. A number of islands were shifted dozens of centimetres -- the entire Indian subcontinent moved east by two centimetres. Weeks after the quake, the entire Earth was still vibrating.

It's hard to comprehend the sheer scale of this event. We tend to think of the earth as fixed, unmoveable and indestructible. And while the Bible states that God created the earth to exist forever, it also states that because of man's sin, its very foundations will be shaken.

Isaiah 24:17-20
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

The book of Revelation tells us that during the tribulation period, the greatest earthquake the world has ever seen will occur. The cities of earth will fall, the planet will be moved out of its orbit, and every island will be moved out of its place. With the December 2004 earthquake, we have already witnessed this on a small scale. The Bible states that things will only get worse. Following the earthquake in Revelation, the inhabitants of earth call upon the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. Then it will be too late to call for mercy. Call upon Christ now for salvation, while you still have the opportunity.

Revelation 6:12-14
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; 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. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Source Reuters, Jerusalem Post, Spiegel

Three powerful earthquakes jolted Indonesia in less than 24 hours, spawning a 10-foot tsunami, damaging hundreds of houses and sending panicked residents fleeing to high ground. At least nine people were killed in the tremors, which were followed by dozens of aftershocks.

*NOTE* There have been a total of 15 earthquakes in this immediate area since 2000.  Five of them happening during this year alone 

The city of Manchester has been hit by an earthquake for the sixth time this month. According to the Reuters news article, Britain experiences around eight to nine minor earthquakes per year, with most usually occur in remote areas. But it seems earthquakes and other unusual phenomenon hitting major population centres is becoming more commonplace. Between October 2002 and January 2003, the Manchester region experienced around 150 minor tremors, one of which measured around 3.9 on the Richter Scale. At the beginning of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, Britain experienced two tornados in the cities of Birmingham and Bristol within the space of one week.

Quote: "People reported wardrobe doors rattling and buildings creaking as the earthquake measuring an initial 2.4 on the Richter scale shook the city centre at about 5:45 a.m. Julian Bukits, assistant seismologist at the British Geological Survey, said: "About a dozen people have contacted us saying they had heard faint to moderate rumbling." "It was a gentle wake-up call." It was the sixth earthquake to hit the city in the past month, all measuring between 1.4 and 2.5 magnitude.

In the Psalms, Isaiah, Zechariah and the book of Revelation, prophecies regarding the end times seem almost synonymous with an increase in earthquake activity. Isaiah 2:19-21, 13:13 and 24:18 state that during the tribulation period, the Lord will "arise to shake terribly the earth". Isaiah 24:19 says the earth is "moved exceedingly" and verse 20 says that the planet shall "reel to and fro like a drunkard" - perhaps literally out of its orbit as we witnessed in December 2005. Revelation 16:18-19 states that during the tribulation period, there will come an earthquake so great that it will destroy all the cities of earth. The earthquakes we are seeing now, in places where they would have previously been unheard of, are like birth pangs leading up to the tribulation period and the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. Are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus Christ? Have your sins been forgiven? Will you be taken to be with Christ, or will you be left behind to face the judgement of this world? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Isaiah 24:17-18
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

Source Reuters

Israeli President Shimon Peres' "Peace Valley" project is being opposed by scientists and environmentalists over fears that it could cause further damage to the ecology of the Dead Sea region. Israel, Jordan and Syria divert approximately 95% of the water from the Jordan river for irrigation, and this decreased flow coupled with natural evaporation is causing the water level of the Dead Sea to drop by around one metre a year. Experts warn that the sea could completely dry up within fifty years unless something is done. Hotels that were built on what was once the shore line of the Dead Sea are now over 2000 feet from the water's edge. During the 1980s Israel came up with a plan to build a canal linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. The government had the money to build it, but before the canal could be dug the Israeli economy took a downturn and the plan was shelved. As part of his "Peace Valley" plan, Shimon Peres has now suggested that Israel dig a canal from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba. The project would also involve the development of industrial and tourist projects along the banks of the Jordan, and would boost economic cooperation between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. But scientists fear that the benefits of such a canal system may be outweighed by the possible threat to wildlife and farming should the experiment fail...

Quote: ""For the Arava Valley," he said, "the threat emanates from possible earthquakes which could cause a break in the canal and flood the valley with seawater, destroying agriculture and polluting the groundwater used by Israel and Jordan." "The most serious problem, about which very little is known," said Lipchin, "is the mixing of the waters - the Dead Sea with the Red Sea. This is what is unique to the project and has never before been attempted. We simply cannot predict what the outcome will be," he said.

The World Bank is beginning a two year feasibility study into Peres' Peace Valley plan. Around a dozen international companies will be working on the project, which is expected to cost up to $2-4 billion to complete.

Quote: "AMMAN - A feasibility and environmental assessment study on the Red-Dead Canal project seeking to top up the degrading Dead Sea is set to start early December, a top water official said on Tuesday. "We are done with the shortlisting of companies bidding to conduct the feasibility and environmental assessment study. These companies have been provided with the plan's terms of reference and by September, they should provide us with financial and technical offers," Jordan Valley Authority Secretary General Musa Jamaini told The Jordan Times yesterday.

The Great Rift Valley faultline runs through part of the Dead Sea region and the Mount of Olives. A major earthquake has struck the Dead Sea Basin roughly every 100 years, and seismologists believe that the next big earthquake is overdue. They have warned that Israel is not prepared to deal with the aftermath of such an event, which could leave up to 16,000 dead and thousands more homeless. I find it interesting that the scientists fear that an earthquake could spell the end of the Dead Sea Canal project. There are a few earthquakes that the Bible predicts will happen in Israel before the coming of the Lord to the earth. Ezekiel 47 and Zechariah 14 seem to indicate that the earthquake that will occur as Christ's feet touch the Mount of Olives will not spell the end of the Dead Sea Canal project, rather it will complete it in just a few minutes. For the Mount of Olives will split in two, half of the mountain will move to the north and half towards the south. This earthquake activity causes an underground reservoir to burst, and streams of water will issue out of Jerusalem and heal the waters of the Dead Sea.

Ezekiel 47:8-10
Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

What men don't understand is that the Dead Sea region was cursed by God. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown by the Lord because of their pride and sexual immorality. They are described in Genesis as "cities of the plain", but following their judgement of fire and brimstone which rained down on them out of heaven, the plain became the lowest dry point on the face of the planet. The very ground was cursed because of their wickedness, and today nothing grows in the region due to its high salinity.

Genesis 19:24-25
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Men cannot reverse the curse of God. To try and build a canal from the Dead Sea to anywhere on earth is a hopeless endeavour, for those waters will not be healed until the Lord comes. Throughout history men have tried to go against the will of God, thinking they can make it on their own. But the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Without me ye can do nothing", John 15:5. You cannot make it on your own. Even our best efforts are counted as sin in God's eyes (Isaiah 64:6). The end times are approaching, and unless you could attain the righteousness of God you will not make heaven, for the Bible states that no sin can ever enter there (Revelation 21:27). The Bible states that by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, we can attain the righteousness of God. When we are cleansed from our sins by His precious blood, God sees us covered by the righteousness of Christ. He is our righteousness. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Isaiah 46:12-13
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Source Arutz 7, Menafn, Abba's Watchman