Bible prophecy clearly states that God intends to shake the heavens and the earth before replacing thousands of years of world government with His own eternal one, to be led by the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This will occur after a time of great conflict upon the earth, known as the Great Tribulation.
21 “Say to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and I will overturn the throne of kingdoms and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn the chariot and its rider, so horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. Haggai 2:21-22 (TLV)
Referring to the shaking of the ground which took place when the Lord called Moses and the Israelites to Mount Sinai, after freeing them from slavery in Egypt, the writer of the book of Hebrews also tells us that a great shaking will take place in the end times.
26 His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 Now this phrase, “Yet once more,” shows the removal of those things that are shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:26-27 (TLV)
What is the nature of this shaking? Exactly what it will look like involves some speculation. Is it an actual shaking of the ground, as with an earthquake, or is it more of a metaphor for major changes which will take place both in the spiritual and physical universe?
There have certainly been several turbulent times in history, which must have looked to be the final Tribulation to those who were in the middle of them. But in retrospect, these were the birth pains prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:8.
7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are only the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24:7-8 (TLV)
The kings of Judah were intended to be the placeholders for the coming Messiah, but they failed to come anywhere close to God’s holy standards, so the Lord ended their royal duties, and carried them off into Babylon. Their final king, Jehoiachin, also known as Jeconiah, lived out the rest of his life there. *
After seventy years of exile, the Lord directed some of the Judeans to return to Jerusalem, with the permission of the new Medo-Persian government, to begin reconstruction of His temple. These returnee’s were led by governor Zerubbabel, a grandson of King Jeconiah, and also a member of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as recorded in Matthew 1. God chose faithful Zerubbabel, referring to him as a signet ring, and granted him divine authority and power, and placed him in Jesus’ royal line.
23 “On that day’”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot—‘I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant’—it is a declaration of Adonai—“‘and I will set you like a signet ring. For I have chosen you.’” It is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. Haggai 2:23 (TLV)
(Adonai-Tzva’ot – means The Lord of Hosts in Hebrew)
Though we, too, may be tossed and shaken about by the waves and challenges of life, God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and has never lost control. His eternal plans will be carried out in full, no matter the opposition, spiritual or human. May this be a source of comfort to all people of faith, and a life preserver for those searching for a loving power greater than themselves. The Lord’s arms are ever open and welcoming to all who would seek Him. His grace, mercy, and forgiveness are extended to us without limit, thanks to the wonderful sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. And that is one heavenly power which will never be shaken.
Reflection
What ground is shaking under you today?
The Lord wants to fight our battles for us as we lean upon Him and His goodness.
Lord, we reach out to you for the thousandth time or for the first time. Take us in Your arms and meet our desperate need, be it for ourselves or for someone else whom we love. We trust in You to be present and a source of great comfort, peace, and healing, whatever our need. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV)
*(Note: Jehoichin’s Rations Tablets from the royal archives of King Nebuchadnezzar were excavated from Babylon during 1899-1917 by Robert Koldewey. They describe the rations set aside for captive King Jechoniah and five of his sons. Source: Wikipedia)
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 