eschatology, Sixth Seal: Physical Disturbances (Rev.6:12-17)

Jesus breaks the sixth seal, which causes physical disturbances on the earth.  Except for the great flood, this will be like NOTHING we have seen on earth! 

Notice in verses 15-17, all people are terrorized about what is happening all around them and are behaving as they KNOW the end of the world is at hand, not just simply speculating and making worrisome comments about it as some people sometimes do now, in the Church Age... 

(Revelation 6:12-17)  I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Today's takeaway:  also notice that all these people (above) are acknowledging that there is a God, and that the disasters which are happening at the moment are being caused by God.  But they do not choose to turn to Him to be saved.  Instead - they run and try to hide from Him - and they ask (they pray to) the rocks to do them a favor.

Right now, if anyone makes a comment that a natural disaster is God's punishment upon a specific nation or group of people because of "x"... many people become angry, insulted or annoyed, commenting that no one should make such stupid comments.

Now, I would agree that those are stupid comments.  We cannot speak for God and assume that we know He is punishing someone at the moment for one reason or another.  Reading the book of Job explains all that!  We should be wary of making such pronouncements because it is judgmental, and using fear with a critical spirit is no way to share the gospel...

(Luke 6:37-38)  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”