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 great 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 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 this will look like involves some speculation. Is it an actual shaking of the ground as in an earthquake or is it a metaphor for the major authority changes which will take place in the spiritual and physical universe?
There have been several very turbulent times in history which must have looked like the final Tribulation to those 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 the placeholders for the coming Messiah, but they failed to come close to God’s holy standards, so He abruptly ended their royal line and carried them off into Babylon. Their final king Jehoiachin, known also as Jeconiah or Coniah, lived out his life there. *
After seventy years of exile, the Lord directed some of the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem with the permission of the new Medo-Persian government to begin reconstruction of the temple. These were led by their governor Zerubbabel, a grandson of Jeconiah, and a member of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. God would choose faithful Zerubbabel as a signet ring, granting him divine authority and power as one placed in His chosen 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.)
Though we may be tossed and shaken about by the waves of life, God has never lost control. His plan will be carried out in full no matter the opposition, spiritual or human. May this be a source of comfort for those with faith, and a life preserver to reach for by those searching for a loving power greater than themselves. His arms are open and welcoming for all.
Reflection
What ground is shaking around 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 needs, be it for ourselves or for someone else whom we love. We trust You to be present and a source of great comfort and peace in whatever our need. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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 