The Bible mentions earthquakes both as historical events and as future prophetic signs. They are often associated with divine activity: either judgment, revelation, or the presence of God.
One of the earliest recorded earthquakes occurs during the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:18 says:
“Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke… and the whole mountain quaked greatly.”
This earthquake accompanied the Lord’s presence and underscored the seriousness of His covenant with Israel.
In the New Testament, an earthquake marked the moment of Jesus’ death. Matthew 27:51 says:
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”
Another occurred at His resurrection, when the angel rolled back the stone from the tomb (Matthew 28:2). These earthquakes symbolized both divine judgment and the power of resurrection.
The book of Acts records an earthquake that freed Paul and Silas from prison, which led to the conversion of the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:26).
Earthquakes also feature prominently in prophecy. Jesus included them in His description of the signs preceding the end times. Matthew 24:7 says:
“And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
In the book of Revelation, several major earthquakes accompany God’s final judgments. Revelation 6:12 describes a great earthquake during the sixth seal, and Revelation 16:18 speaks of an earthquake unlike any other in human history:
“And there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.”
Biblically, earthquakes are not random natural occurrences but are often used by God to signal His power, presence, judgment, or fulfillment of prophecy.
