Earthquake warning

Earthquake in Northridge California, January 17, 1994

Various geologists believe that an earthquake warning system needs to be put into place:

February 3, 2013

The San Andreas Fault is overdue for a powerful earthquake, geologists say, but there is no way to predict when it will strike. Yet as Japan has demonstrated, it is possible to detect the start of a quake and alert at least some potential victims moments before the most damaging shocks hit. That country’s detection and warning system helped minimize the casualties from the massive quake off its coast in 2011, although the resulting tsunami claimed thousands of lives.

Last week, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, the California Institute of Technology and UC Berkeley, backed by state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), called on the state to develop a similar system… the alerts could reach at least some people a few seconds or more before the shaking begins (the farther from the epicenter, the more advanced the warning). That’s enough time not just for automated controls in buildings and transit systems to react but also for people to take cover. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-earthquake-early-warning-20130203,0,3131924.story

Better warning systems may be able to save lives. Typically, there is no warnings for California earthquakes–the ground and buildings just start to shake and you basically wait it out. Sometimes there is time to move to a doorway or under a table or something to protect from falling objects.

I believe that a megaquake, which locally tends to be called “the big one,” will at some point in time hit California. And by that, I specifically mean one that is quite large and one that would be even more devastating than the Northridge quake of 1994.

Jesus warned about a time earthquakes and troubles:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be…troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

We may be at this prophetic point as all the earthquakes and other problems that have happened in the past couple of years could be considered as “troubles.” Thus, an official warning system would biblically make sense.

Yet, the biggest earthquake in biblical prophecy, which comes later, is the following one:

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. (Revelation 16:18-20)

Notice that the above earthquake is so big that the cities of the nations will fall. Mountains will be leveled and islands “fled away” (more on this can be found in the article Islands and Bible Prophecy). This seems to be the biggest earthquake that will ever hit the planet with humans on it.

It will be bigger than what the usual “experts” have believed was possible. It will change the planet and humble parts of humanity.

It should be noted since that the apparently biggest of all earthquakes seems to take place near the end of the Day of the Lord, it probably cannot happen prior to 2019 (for more on why as well as dates, please see the articles Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013, 2014, or 2015? and Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

Since I believe that this megaquake needs to happen within the next 1/2 century, that is why I say it is about 100% likely that a megaquake will hit Oregon and California–it will also affect pretty much everyone in the future.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? What is “the beginning of sorrows”? Have we begun or are we about ready for “the beginning of sorrows” to begin.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Earthquakes Today and Bible Prophecy Contains a cool up-to-the-hour update of earthquakes around the world from USGS. It also explains what did Jesus teach about earthquakes and how the Bible describes “the big one” (as well as when it is expected).