From CNN:
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Friday afternoon off the coast of Chile, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The estimated epicenter was 69 kilometers (43 miles) from the Chilean city of Concepcion.
It hasn’t even been a year since the devastating 8.8 mangitude struck Chile.
It’s easy to miss these kinds of things in the midst of Egypt. Please pray for the people of Chile.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Chile as they have been hit by three earthquakes earlier today: a 7.2 magnitude near O’Higgins followed by two quakes, 6.9 and 6.0 magnitude, southwest of Santiago.
I think this is a valid question to ask ourselves. I didn’t realize there was an earthquake season.
Let’s take a look at mean:
Are we living in the end time? This is a question that I see a lot on blogs of the Evangelical persuasion.
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8)
However, as my Lutheran Study Bible points out in the notes for vs. 6-7,
Because geopolitical conflicts and natural disasters are common, they cannot be used to determine the date of the end of the world. The frequency of such signs reminds us that we always need to be prepared for Jesus’ return.
I’ve also seen it said that God is trying to get our attention with these earthquakes. That depends on what you mean by “get our attention.”
Apparently there were more effects from the earthquake the happened in Chile than we first thought. The earthquake, which happened Saturday morning, was the seventh largest in recorded history and may have shifted the axis of the Earth, shortening the days by 1.26 microseconds.
Also those of us living in the Pacific Northwest may experience a mega earthquake. Apparently the 680 mile long Cascadia fault, which lies 50 miles offshore, behaves much like the one that broke off the coast of Chile that triggered the 8.8 magnitude earthquake
So, I have to admit, this morning when I got home from church, I started surfing the internet to see if there were any comments regarding the recent earthquake in Chile and how that related to God’s act of judgment, like that of the earthquake in Haiti. Had I been thinking, I would have posted this after the earthquake in Haiti. Fortunately, there was nothing substantive on the net and this post fits in well.
Why would I go actively search? Obviously I needed a good post for today, but also because as I was sitting in church listing to a descent sermon on Luke 13, it struck me. Today’s text was Luke 13:1-9. The part that struck me was the first part of this text, Luke 13:1-5:
There were some present at that very time who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
The study note in my The Lutheran Study Bible has this to say:
Jesus points out tragedies as occasions for self-examination and reflection on our sinful frailty. Contrary to popular thought, tragedy does not always strike people because they somehow deserve it. Rather, in His wisdom God allows and uses even tragic events to warn of judgment, that He might bring us to repentance and eternal life through faith in Jesus. (TLSB, 1743)
To quote Luther, “This is most certainly true.”
The second major earthquake of the year struck Chile earlier. A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck of the coast of Maule, Chile. At least 122 are confirmed dead. This number is expected to rise as more reports come in. Aside from the aftershocks that are expected, Pacific nations brace for possible tsunamis. Our prayers and thoughts go out to all those affected by this earthquake.
Thanks to Matt over at Broadcast Depth for pointing this out.
Joel, aka Polycarp, also has information relating to the Earthquake here.
TheoNerd 