New Zealand Hit By Powerful Earthquake

A powerful earthquake hit the South Island of New Zealand today (actually September 4th in New Zealand):

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has rocked much of New Zealand’s South Island. No immediate tsunami alert has been issued and no injuries have been reported.

The quake, which hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of the southern city of Christchurch, shook a wide area with initial radio reports saying items were tossed from store shelves and roof tiles cracked by the strong temblor.

Christchurch police reported some road damage in parts of the city of 400,000 people, with a series of sharp aftershocks rocking the area. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLE5Mss9oMr_dpRNOuQ19HacFrRQD9I0J4800

The impact of this earthquake is unclear. Other reports have claimed it was a 7.0, 7.1, or 7.2 quake.

The South Island of New Zealand is less densely populated than its North Island, and so this may only be a relatively mild trouble for New Zealand. Here is another report:

The New Zealand earthquake caused road damage and wall collapses in parts of the city of 400,000, and authorities said looters had broken into some damaged shops, according to the Associated Press…

“There is quite significant damage, really, with reports that some people were trapped in damaged houses.” http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/photogalleries/100903-new-zealand-earthquake-christchurch-pictures/

Jesus, of course, warned about a time with such issues:

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 year could be considered as “troubles”.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? 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.
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?