How does Revelation 11:13 demonstrate God's power and authority over creation? Setting the Stage “ At that very hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the quake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” — Revelation 11:13 A Literal Tremor from the Hand of God • John records “a great earthquake,” not a metaphor but an actual, global‐shaking event. • Earthquakes in Scripture frequently mark moments when God steps into history (Exodus 19:18; Matthew 27:51). • The timing—“at that very hour”—underscores God’s precise control; the ground moves exactly when He decrees. Selective Judgment Displays Absolute Control • Only “a tenth of the city” falls. Destruction is sizable yet limited. • “Seven thousand” die—no more, no less. Such exact numbers reveal the Lord’s meticulous governance over even individual lives (Luke 12:7). • By sparing nine‐tenths of the city, God shows He is neither capricious nor reckless; His wrath is measured. Fear Leads to Glory • The survivors are “terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” • Terror turns to acknowledgment; shaking the earth shakes stubborn hearts. • Romans 14:11 echoes this outcome: “Every knee will bow.” God’s authority secures worship, whether voluntary now or compelled later. Threads Woven Through the Whole Bible • Job 38 reminds us the Lord “laid the earth’s foundations.” The same Creator can reorder them. • Isaiah 45:7 declares He “brings prosperity and creates calamity.” Revelation 11:13 is a live demonstration. • Hebrews 12:26–27 cites a future shaking so that “only the unshakable may remain,” tying Revelation’s quake to God’s plan to purify creation. What This Reveals About God’s Power and Authority • Creation obeys its Maker; mountains and city walls crumble on command. • Judgment and mercy operate together—devastation balanced by opportunity for repentance. • God’s purposes prevail; even forces of nature become instruments to steer human hearts toward His glory. Living in Light of This Truth • Trust: If the Lord governs tectonic plates, He governs every circumstance of our lives (Psalm 46:1–3). • Worship: Give Him the glory willingly today that others will be compelled to give later. • Readiness: Earthquakes in Revelation foreshadow a final reckoning; stay spiritually alert and faithful (2 Peter 3:11–12). Revelation 11:13 shakes more than stone and soil; it shakes complacency, reminding every reader that the God who rules the earth will not share His throne with any rival. |
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