A top-level Knesset committee will hold an urgently called meeting next week to review the country’s readiness for earthquakes in the wake of the deadly temblors in Turkey and Syria that killed thousands of people.
On Monday, February 6th, a magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria toppling buildings and killing thousands of people. Tremors were also felt in parts of Israel and beyond.
Earlier Monday, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, toppling buildings and killing more than 2,300 people. The quake was also felt in some parts of Israel, though no damage or injuries were reported. There were more temblors felt in Turkey and Syria later in the day, including one that was of a magnitude of 7.5. (The Times of Israel)
In Israel, this served as a wake up call as the nation’s experts believe the country is woefully unprepared for a major earthquake that could strike in the future. Allisraelnews emphasized this point stating, “The devastating 7.8- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in Turkey and Syria must serve as a warning to Israel to prepare for a major earthquake in the not-too-distant future, warned geology experts.”
I originally introduced this story on my Instagram account on Thursday, February 9th through the Haaretz article, Massive Quake in Israel ‘Only a Matter of Time,’ Experts Warn, due to the fact that it brought my mind to the great earthquake spoken of in Revelation 11:13. Revelation 11:1-14 speaks about 2 witnesses that will prophesy for 1,260 days or 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period. After this time, the antichrist will kill them and their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem, Israel for 3 1/2 days.
Once the 3 1/2 days elapses, they will be resurrected and within the hour an earthquake will occur and kill 7,000 people. This is noted as the “second woe” which will happen in between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgments.
Although the main focus of the Haaretz article was to stress Israel’s lack of preparedness and did not specify any number of casualties, the warning of a disastrous future earthquake in Israel brought the passage in Revelation 11 to my remembrance. Even more so as I’ve already written an article in both 2018 and 2019 on this very topic with Israeli officials estimating that a future earthquake could kill 7,000 people.
To my surprise however, I soon came across various articles making the same warning of the possibility of 7,000 people being killed in a future earthquake in Israel. All of them citing State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman who himself cited a 2018 report done by his predecessor, Yosef Shapira.
“Englman pointed to a 2018 report from his predecessor that estimated a major earthquake could kill 7,000 people and leave 170,000 homeless. Last year, a comptroller report found there were 600,000 buildings in the country that do not meet the standard for earthquake resistance.” (The Times of Israel)
Below is a list of the other sources that also quote Englman’s warning:
- Ministry in charge of earthquake preparedness said in ‘chaos,’ without leadership – The Times of Israel
- Israel must prepare for next major earthquake, say nation’s experts in geology, construction and engineering – Allisraelnews
- Israel Braces for Major Earthquake as Leaders Sound Alarm – Israel Today
The 2018 article from the Times of Israel noted investigations being done on Israel’s earthquake preparedness as far back as 2001 showing that these warnings are nothing new. As I’ve noted in past articles, I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Revelation 11:13 tells us about a great earthquake that will occur in Israel during the tribulation killing 7,000 people and we’re seeing Israeli news sources citing experts that are warning of a future major earthquake in Israel that could kill 7,000 people.
To be clear, I’m not claiming that Revelation 11:13 has been fulfilled, is being fulfilled currently or God forbid if an earthquake were to happen in Israel in the near to distant future, that that earthquake specifically will be a fulfillment of this passage. The passage pertains to a specific time during the tribulation which is yet future. The context is clear.
The purpose of this article is to draw our attention to what scripture says will occur in the future and with that understanding utilize that “lens” to properly see and interpret the events of our day, this being one of them. I believe news such as this should function as a wake up call of sorts for the believer; that we truly are living in the last days and that God’s prophetic program will one day be fulfilled. It can also be used as an apologetic to get others to take a closer look at what scripture says about the times we’re living in and the validity of God’s word.
As believers, we don’t delight in the suffering we see in the world or parts of scripture that detail God’s judgment such as in Revelation 11:13. However, we can have comfort knowing that we won’t be a part of that time period as we anticipate the Lord’s soon return prior to it. It’s this hope, and ultimately, the hope we have in Christ that we’re to share with a lost world desperately in need of it.
Knesset to review earthquake readiness next week, as state comptroller sounds alarm
The Times of Israel: A top-level Knesset committee will hold an urgently called meeting next week to review the country’s readiness for earthquakes in the wake of the deadly temblors in Turkey and Syria that killed thousands of people.
Chairman of the Knesset’s Internal Affairs and Environment Committee Ya’akov Asher will invite all government ministries and emergency agencies to attend the meeting, the Knesset spokesperson said in a statement.
The meeting will examine the state of buildings and “the readiness of the emergency agencies to deal with a crisis.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the premier had directed National Security Council chairman Tzachi Hanegbi to conduct a situational assessment regarding the government’s preparedness for earthquakes. Hanegbi will soon hold a meeting on the matter with representatives from all of the relevant ministries, the PMO said.
Also on Monday, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman urged authorities to fortify the country against a potentially devastating earthquake, and pointed to the disaster in Turkey and Syria as indications of the urgency of doing so.
“The earthquakes should turn on a bright warning light to the government of Israel and the local authorities,” Englman said during a presentation he gave at his Jerusalem office to 12th graders from Katzir High School in Rehovot.
Earlier Monday, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, toppling buildings and killing more than 2,300 people. The quake was also felt in some parts of Israel, though no damage or injuries were reported. There were more temblors felt in Turkey and Syria later in the day, including one that was of a magnitude of 7.5. Read More
Sources
- Ministry in charge of earthquake preparedness said in ‘chaos,’ without leadership (February 9th, 2023) – The Times of Israel
- Israel must prepare for next major earthquake, say nation’s experts in geology, construction and engineering (February 9th, 2023) – Allisraelnews
- Israel Braces for Major Earthquake as Leaders Sound Alarm (February 8th, 2023) – Israel Today
- Knesset to review earthquake readiness next week, as state comptroller sounds alarm (February 6th, 2023) – The Times of Israel
- Strong quake knocks down buildings in Turkey and Syria; shaking felt across Israel (February 6th, 2023) – The Times of Israel
- Massive Quake in Israel ‘Only a Matter of Time,’ Experts Warn (February 6th, 2023) – Haaretz
- State comptroller: Israel unprepared for major quake, ignoring warnings (July 18th, 2018) – The Times of Israel