The Close of Probation

One of the worst quakes ever recorded occurred in 1960. Known as “The Great Chilean Earthquake,” it registered 9.5 on the Richter scale and sent a 200-mile-per-hour tsunami across the Pacific Ocean, creating a wave that killed 61 people in Hawaii, 138 in Japan, 32 in the Philippines, and from 1,000 to 6,000 victims in Chile itself. But even that quake will be nothing compared to the “mighty and great earthquake” in the seventh plague. This will be a shaking as never before experienced on the planet.

Notice that this is not the first time Revelation has described this end-time event. In Revelation 8, we also read of “noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake” (v. 5) and are shown the perspective in heaven: Christ throws His fiery censer “to the earth,” marking the close of His judging the human race. The Judge of the whole earth has, at this point, determined who will be given eternal life and who will receive eternal death.

Then, in Revelation 11, we read again of “lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake” (v. 19). We are pointed specifically to the location of Christ’s judging, the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary. Since 1844, our Advocate, in the Holy of Holies, has been weighing the evidence for and against us. Once again, we are shown the end of the investigative judgment.

Now, in today’s verse, the same “noises and thunderings and lightnings” and “earthquake” unfold before us. We have reached that same time. At this point, under the seventh plague, the first phase of judgment will conclude; all cases will have been decided. What was previously shown to us from the heavenly point of view will now be shown from an earthly one.

Notice that this event is consistently portrayed at the end of a series of seven: after the seventh seal, after the seventh trumpet, and, in today’s verse, in the seventh plague. God has told us three times that judgment will one day come to a close. Though the world may think otherwise, the Word of God says that this is sure.

Lord, let us not take for granted the time that we have now, but help us to be prepared for when our probation closes.

For Further Study: Psalm 90:11, 12; Hebrews 12:25–28; Revelation 4:5

Key Bible Texts

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. (Revelation 16:18 KJV)