;\u00a0<\/strong>A Mute Man with a Demon \u2014 Matthew 9:32-34;The Syrophoenician Woman\u2019s Faith \u2014 Matthew 15:21-28;The Healing of a Boy with a Demon \u2014Matthew 17:14-21;Jesus\u2019 Authority Demonstrated in the Synagogue \u2014 Mark 1:21-28;The Healing of the Demon-Possessed Man of the Gerasenes \u2014 Mark 5:1-20).<\/p>\nIf the Bible is true in what it says about Jesus, then it is true about the devil and demons, too. Moreover, if it is true as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:19-20, that God\u2019s existence is inferred from the observation of the natural world, in a similar manner the devil\u2019s existence is inferred by examining the world and the wicked influences attributed to him.<\/p>\n
It is much the same way a lawyer would use circumstantial evidence to prove a case in court. The presence of evil and negative influences, as well as the idea that the devil can influence human behavior, are presented as strong evidence for the reality of the devil and demons.<\/p>\n
Once the bowl is voided a mighty shout comes from the throne in the Temple, declaring, \u201cIt is finished.\u201d<\/p>\n
Remember Jesus declared, \u201cIt is finished\u201d on the cross (John 19:30). What Jesus had done by his blood-atonement on Calvary\u2019s tree purchased redemption in full. It was a finished work, but it had ongoing benefits for everyone who believes.<\/p>\n
However, when the last bowl is dispensed and the Lord speaks these words from the Temple, it means the work of judgment on this God-hating, unbelieving, pervasively dark world of doubt and indifference, where the cacophony of skepticism constantly drowns out the Spirit\u2019s whispers of hope, is completed and done. And, in this case, there are no benefits, none whatsoever for those who reject the Savior.<\/p>\n
In an instant, deafening thunder is said to have reverberated through the air, accompanied by brilliant, flashing lightning. This has happened before.<\/p>\n
In Exodus 19:16-19, when God descended upon Mount Sinai to deliver the Ten Commandments to Moses, there was thunder, lightning, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. The people trembled at the display of God\u2019s power. In 1 Kings 18:38, during Elijah\u2019s showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, God sent fire (lightning) from Heaven to consume Elijah\u2019s offering, accompanied by thunder and rain, demonstrating his supremacy. In Revelation 4:5 and Revelation 8:5, thunder and lightning occurred as a part of John\u2019s heavenly visions, emphasizing the awe-inspiring nature of God\u2019s divine revelation.<\/p>\n
The thunder and lightning are impressive symbols of God\u2019s majesty, authority, and presence, leaving a profound impact on those who witness them.<\/p>\n
The Psalmist says,\u00a0\u201cWho can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on Heaven and on earth \u2026 Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him \u2026 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him\u201d (Psalm 113:5-6; 33:8; 96:9).<\/p>\n
Yet more, a colossal earthquake strikes, \u201cthe worst since people were placed on the earth\u201d (vs. 18).<\/p>\n
Earthquakes, as recorded in Scripture, serve as potent manifestations of God\u2019s presence, judgment, deliverance, or significance, illustrating God\u2019s authority over the natural world and his involvement in human history.<\/p>\n
The prophet Haggai recorded the Lord saying,\u00a0\u201cIn just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land.\u00a0I will shake all the nations\u2026\u201d (Haggai 2:6-7).<\/p>\n
Earthquakes accompany very significant events such as when God descended on Mount Sinai to give the Ten Commandments, and the mountain quaked (Exodus 19:18). An earthquake also occurred at the crucifixion of Jesus, signifying the solemnity of his sacrifice, which inaugurated a new covenant of grace and faith (Matthew 27:51-54). There was also an earthquake at the resurrection when the angel rolled away the great stone from the tomb, which marked God\u2019s approval and acceptance of Christ\u2019s sacrifice (Matthew 28:2).<\/p>\n
The three worst earthquakes in world history were:<\/p>\n
1. The Jiajing Earthquake (1556),<\/strong>\u00a0which struck Shaanxi, China, was the deadliest. It claimed approximately 830,000 lives. It was estimated to have been around 8.0 to 8.3 on the Richter Scale.<\/p>\n2. The Tangshan Earthquake (1976),<\/strong>\u00a0happened in Tangshan, China, and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 242,000 people. It also caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. Its magnitude was approximately 7.5 on the Richter Scale.<\/p>\n3. The Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (2004),<\/strong>\u00a0was an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It triggered a massive tsunami that affected several countries around the Indian Ocean, resulting in over 230,000 fatalities and widespread destruction. It was estimated to be between 9.1 and 9.3 on the Richter Scale.<\/p>\nHowever, the earthquake foretold in Revelation 16:18 is unlike any earthquake that has ever shaken the earth before. The world\u2019s worst earthquakes will only seem like a tremor compared to the one predicted in this passage.<\/p>\n
How bad will it be?\u00a0It will split the great city of Babylon in three different ways, but Babylon at this point, will not be entirely destroyed. Daymond R. Duck and Larry Richards in\u00a0The Book of Revelation: The Smart Guide to the Bible Series,\u00a0<\/em>contend:<\/p>\n\n\u201cThis great earthquake will split the great city of Babylon into three parts, but it will stand. This cannot be said for other cities because they will be leveled. Every city on earth, except Babylon, will be in ruins as the end of the Tribulation Period approaches. With Babylon still standing, it will come into remembrance before God. One of the three angels (Revelation 14:8) predicted Babylon\u2019s doom just a short time before this. The Old Testament prophets predicted her doom long before that. It will be time for those prophecies to be fulfilled. She will get the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Many people remember the classic Etch-A-Sketch. This nostalgic toy has entertained kids and adults for decades. I used to play with one when I was a boy. It consists of a red plastic frame with a gray screen, and inside is a mixture of aluminum powder. To create a drawing, you simply turn two white knobs on the right and left on the front of the frame, which are connected to a stylus inside. As you turn the knobs, the stylus moves through the aluminum powder, presenting dark lines on the gray screen. If you want to start over, you simply shake the Etch-A-Sketch, and all the lines will fall and erase your drawing.<\/p>\n
Imagine the world as an enormous Etch-A-Sketch. Just like when you shake the Etch-A-Sketch and all the lines fall and disappear, in Revelation 16:20, God\u2019s mighty power shakes the earth so profoundly that it\u2019s as if every island and mountain on this \u201cEtch-A-Sketch world\u201d disappears. The familiar landscapes and features we know are completely transformed, just as the Etch-A-Sketch starts fresh with a clean slate when you shake it. This dramatic event, this unprecedented earthquake, signifies the incredible power and sovereignty of God in reshaping the world and preparing it for his purposes. It\u2019s a forceful symbol of the profound changes and divine renewal that will take place during this momentous time in biblical prophecy.<\/p>\n
The prophet Isaiah has written of this moment, saying:<\/p>\n
\u201cDestruction falls like rain from the heavens;\u00a0the foundations of the earth shake. The earth has broken up. It has utterly collapsed; it is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunk. It trembles like a tent in a storm. It falls and will not rise again, for the guilt of its rebellion is very heavy\u201d (Isaiah 24:18-20).<\/p>\n
When the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were struck by commercial airliners, they swayed and tilted, somewhat like a drunkard does before falling. The impact of the planes and the subsequent fires weakened the structural integrity of the buildings, causing them to sway and lean before eventually collapsing catastrophically.<\/p>\n
At the end of the Tribulation, God shakes this rebellious planet with an earthquake so massive entire cities, even the largest and most prosperous, such as New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Mexico City, Cairo, and London, will tumble to the ground as the Twin Towers did on September 11, 2001.<\/p>\n
Duck and Richards note:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis seems hard to believe, but the 2004 Sumatra earthquake [Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami] that killed more than 280,00 people moved islands and caused the earth to tilt on its axis. Some islands temporarily disappeared under a thirty-foot-high wall of water.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, there remains one final cataclysmic event of biblical proportions, an event that will serve as the climax of this apocalyptic narrative in Revelation chapter 16. A hailstorm of unparalleled magnitude descends upon the earth, its scale eclipsing any previous meteorological event.<\/p>\n
Hailstorms have had devastating consequences, causing loss of life, destruction of property, and significant economic impacts. The seventh plague in Egypt involved a devastating hailstorm. Hail and thunder, along with fire, rained down upon the land, causing unprecedented destruction (Exodus 9:22-26).<\/p>\n
The renowned Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, describes what the hailstorm in Egypt did to them:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat desolations it made upon the earth. It killed both men and cattle and battered down, not only the herbs but the trees. The corn that was above ground was destroyed, and that only preserved which as yet had not come up.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, the hailstorm that pummeled the Egyptians was not only a deadly disaster, but it crushed the nation\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
Some scholars and scientists have attempted to offer natural explanations for certain biblical events, such as suggesting a volcanic eruption might have caused the hailstorm in Egypt, just as some suggest the hailstorm in Revelation 16:21 might be precipitated by a nuclear war.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0The Book of Revelation<\/em>,\u00a0Edward Hinson, Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies at Liberty University, writes:<\/p>\n\n\u201cIt is certainly possible that these judgments are cosmic (an asteroid collides with earth) or geological (volcanos and earthquakes). But the clear references to men fighting, armies marching, and fire falling certainly sound like a great world war involving nuclear weapons. How ironic that John locates this last great conflict between the forces of God and Satan at Armageddon, near Mount Carmel where Elijah stood against the prophets of Baal and called down the fire of God in a demonstration of his mighty power.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Whatever the cause, the Scriptures make it abundantly clear that this event is providential, guided, and directed by the hand of God. At the root of it, is God\u2019s fierce and unrelenting anger. This is why speculation about natural causes is not part of the biblical narrative.<\/p>\n
One of the deadliest hailstorms ever recorded happened in Gopalganj, Bangladesh in 1986. It killed at least 92 people and injured over 500. The hailstones also extensively damaged crops, livestock, and property. The hailstones were said to be the size of oranges.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, according to Revelation 16:21, each hailstone that falls to the earth because of the seventh outpouring of God\u2019s bowls of wrath is said to weigh about\u00a0\u201c75 pounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
No question, whatever the earthquake didn\u2019t shake down, the hailstorm will beat down.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s interesting that after the horrific hailstorm that occurred in Egypt, Pharoah humbled himself and spoke the language of a penitent man. He\u00a0\u201cquickly summoned Moses and Aaron. \u2018This time I have sinned,\u2019 he confessed. \u2018The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong. Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail\u2019\u201d (Exodus 9:27).\u00a0He even set the Israelites free. Yet, Pharoah later changed his mind and repented of his repentance and sought to chase down and recapture his former slaves.<\/p>\n
After the seventh bowl is emptied, those who survive will stand amidst the debris, their lives having been shaken asunder, their spirits tested by the fury of frozen missiles, if they show any remorse, if they should weep and blame themselves, if they should look toward heaven and beg God for mercy, it will not last. Like a dog that turns back to eat its own vomit, they will repent of their repentance and curse God.<\/p>\n
Dr. Chuck Missler in his commentary handbook on\u00a0The Book of Revelation\u00a0provides an excellent closing. He writes:<\/p>\n
\u201cMany are trying to reduce the population of the earth; it seems more appropriate to reduce the population of hell! God changes hearts through his grace and mercy. This book was sent to the seven churches. It was given to us in order to change our lives right now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Be saved. Be forgiven. Be changed by Christ, right now!<\/p>\n