The ground is shaking—and for those paying attention to the signs Jesus warned would precede His return, the images coming out of Colombia are difficult to ignore.
A massive 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Colombia Monday morning, Aug. 10, collapsing buildings, trapping people beneath rubble and even damaging the tallest cathedral in the nation.
According to The Jerusalem Post, citing the Colombian Geological Service, the earthquake struck around 7:34 a.m. local time near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó province. The quake originated approximately 49 miles beneath the surface.
Officials initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 6.6 before dramatically revising it upward to 7.4. Another seismic event measuring magnitude 4.8 struck the region shortly afterward, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The destruction quickly became impossible to overlook.
Chocó Gov. Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi reported numerous injuries and severe structural damage. In Santiago de Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder said at least 20 structures collapsed, with people reportedly trapped beneath the rubble as emergency crews scrambled to respond.
Even one of Colombia’s most recognizable churches was not untouched.
Social media footage appeared to show portions of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica in Manizales crumbling during the shaking. The Jerusalem Post identifies the towering landmark as Colombia’s tallest cathedral.
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Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella convened an emergency meeting with the nation’s disaster risk management agency as officials worked to determine the extent of the devastation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar offered assistance to Colombia following the disaster.
“Israel is prepared to assist Colombia as much as required,” Sa’ar said, according to The Jerusalem Post, adding that his “thoughts and prayers” were with the Colombian people.
And Colombia was not the only place in the Americas to experience shaking.
VolcanoDiscovery reported that a magnitude 2.9 earthquake struck approximately 7 miles south of Lompoc, California, late Saturday night. The much smaller earthquake was shallow, originating only a few miles beneath the surface.
For Christians watching world events through the lens of Scripture, earthquakes themselves are inseparable from the prophetic picture Jesus gave His disciples.
In Matthew 24, Christ was asked about the sign of His coming and the end of the age. Among the conditions He specifically identified were wars, famines, pestilences and “earthquakes in various places.”
Yet Jesus did not stop there.
“All these are the beginning of sorrows,” He said in Matthew 24:8.
That phrase changes the conversation. Jesus compared the conditions surrounding the end times to birth pains—events that signal something is approaching. Scripture later gives an even more terrifying picture of seismic upheaval during the end times. Revelation 6 describes a “great earthquake,” while Revelation 16 foretells an earthquake of staggering proportions during the pouring out of God’s judgment.
Does that mean Monday’s earthquake in Colombia fulfills one of those specific prophecies? Scripture gives us no basis to make that declaration.
But neither should Christians become so accustomed to reports of earthquakes, wars, disasters and global upheaval that Jesus’ warnings become background noise.
Prophecy was not given so believers could sensationalize tragedy. It was given so we would remain awake.
Right now, people in Colombia need prayer—not speculation. Families are facing destroyed buildings, injuries and uncertainty, while rescuers continue responding to the devastation.
But moments like this also confront us with an uncomfortable biblical reality: The world Jesus described is not a world growing increasingly stable as history approaches its conclusion.
It is a world being shaken.
And for the church, the response should be clear: Pray for those suffering, preach the gospel while there is still time and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.
The shaking may come suddenly. His people should not be caught sleeping.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
