Earthquakes Recorded In The Bible

Throughout the Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, there were records of the happenings of earthquakes.

They were actual events, representing the awesome manifestations of God's power, presence and judgment.

Earthquakes are also a significant part of endtime prophecies, especially in Jesus' teachings about the last days and also in the Book of Revelation.

At Mount Sinai
At the giving of the Ten Commandments, Mount Sinai quaked violently as God descended upon the mountain, signifying His immeasurable power and presence.

Exodus 19:18
Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

During Korah's Rebellion
During this rebellion, the earth swallowed Korah and his sons and followers. It was an act of God's divine judgment.

Numbers 16:31-33
31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,
32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.
33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

God’s Revelation To Elijah At Horeb
The prophet Elijah experienced an earthquake where the LORD's presence was revealed to the prophet during a time of crisis.

1 Kings 19:11-12
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Amos' Prophecy
The prophet Amos foretold an earthquake that would happen in the land of Israel during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah. It was foretold two years in advance.

Amos 1:1
The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Jesus' Teachings About The Last Days
Jesus prophesied that great earthquakes and other catastrophic events would occur in various places in the last days.

Matthew 24:7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

During The Death Of Christ
A great earthquake occurred at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, symbolizing the profound significance of His sacrifice.

Matthew 27:50-54
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

During The Resurrection Of Christ
An earthquake happened during Jesus' resurrection, marking His victory over death.

Matthew 28:2
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

Paul and Silas In Prison
An earthquake shook the prison foundations, leading to the miraculous deliverance of Paul and Silas and the conversion of their jailer.

Acts 16:26
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Endtime Prophecies In The Book Of Revelation
The Book of Revelation describes catastrophic earthquakes as signs of God's final judgment and the coming of His kingdom, shaking the heavens, the earth, both the lands and the seas.

Revelation 6:12-14
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

Revelation 16:18-20
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. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Earthquakes are depicted as demonstrations of God's omnipotence and His active role in the history of mankind. They are often associated with God's divine wrath and judgment against the sins of mankind.

However, in some instances, it also portrays God’s awesome power as in the resurrection of Christ, and the deliverance of Paul and Silas.

Earthquakes can symbolize divine interventions in earthly circumstances, often serving as preludes to God’s desire to see a change in the hearts of men.

Psalm 46

God The Refuge Of His People And Conqueror Of The Nations

1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

God is our protection and our strength. He always helps us in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid if the earth shakes, or if the mountains fall into the sea. We will not fear even if the oceans roar and foam, or if the mountains shake at the raging seas.

And God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations. I will be praised throughout the earth."

In times of earthquakes, we need to be still and know that He is God.

Written on 30 August 2025