Miracle of Earthquake & Rent Rocks

Introduction: God Speaks in Miracle After Christ's Death

0:02 This sermon was preached on Sunday morning, March 11, 1990, at the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey. May I encourage you to follow with me as I read this morning, first of all, from the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 15, and I shall read in your hearing verses 37 to 39, and then we shall turn over to the parallel passage in the 27th chapter of Matthew, Mark chapter 15 and verse 37.

0:43 And Jesus uttered a loud voice and gave up the ghost, and the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, who stood over against him, saw that he so gave up the veil of the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. And now Matthew 27, verses 50 through 54, Matthew 27 and verse 50.

1:28 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake. And the rocks were rent, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised, and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake

2:12 and the things that were done. They feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Let us again seek the face of God in prayer, asking for the aid of the Holy Spirit in our meditation upon his own infallible word.

2:39 Our Father, as we come again to that most glorious and yet most mysterious of all places upon the face of the earth. The hill Golgotha, where the God-man, our blessed Lord Jesus, poured out his soul unto death. We pray that the Holy Spirit who has been given to testify to Christ, to take of the things of Christ and to reveal them to us, oh, that he may be present this morning, enabling us to understand your own peculiar voice.

3:20 Your voice of miracle, attending the death of your Son, and then understanding your voice in your mighty, miraculous deeds, then give us hearts to embrace that word, and by the enablement of the Holy Spirit, to walk in its light. Speak then, we pray, bind the powers of darkness, drive all dullness and distraction, from our minds, for we know of all the truths which the enemy of our souls hates. Surely there is none he hates more than those truths which are most calculated to make our

4:04 sins ugly in our eyes, to make you glorious in our eyes. Therefore we ask you to bind the enemy, rout his influence from our midst, and may the word run and have free course and be glorified. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

4:25 Oh, sooner were the lips of Jesus of Nazareth silenced in death upon his own cross, but God the Father came forth to speak in a language all his own. It is a language at one and the same time that is mysterious, awesome, and eloquent. And what is that language? Well, it was not the language of the Holy Spirit.

5:03 It was the language of the Holy Spirit. It was the language of the Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic, or Latin, in which our Lord's superscription was written and affixed to the top part of his cross. But rather it was the language of miracle. Miracle being God's sovereign intrusion upon his own world of men and things.

5:28 A holy disruption seen by the eyes of men. Felt by the eyes of men. Felt by the senses of men. By which vehicle God is speaking to those who are witnesses to his acts.

5:44 Therefore I say, when the lips of the Son of God are silent, God himself speaks in the language of miracle. Whereas the taunts of men while our Lord was yet alive and hanging upon the cross implied that God had vacated his throne. With respect to the death of his Son, you remember they said, if God delights in you, let him now come down, let him come and deliver you. Furthermore, Jesus' own cry of dereliction might well have given the impression that

6:24 God was somehow an absent God from all that transpired at Golgotha. For his cry was, my God, my God, why have you abandoned me? And yet, no sooner does the Son of God yield up his spirit, but that God does speak in these miraculous events which immediately surround the gory scene of Golgotha. And in these miraculous events, God makes it abundantly clear that he was indeed present at Golgotha.

The Form of God's Message: Earthquake and Rent Rocks

7:03 That he was upon his throne. And that every event and circumstance pertaining to the death of his Son was under his control and fulfilling his purpose. Last Lord's Day, we focused our attention upon that central miracle by which God spoke eloquently from Golgotha immediately after the death of his dear Son. It is the one miracle recorded by both Matthew.

7:37 Mark and Luke . Matthew, Mark, and Luke . The miracle of the split veil. The form of God's message is very simply stated that the great veil in the temple, that heavy veil that shut men out from the place of God's peculiar and special presence, that veil was torn asunder from top to bottom in the midst by the mighty hands of God.

8:04 Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The miracle of the split veil. Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Hands that receive the departing Spirit of Jesus, having received His Spirit, are now stretched forth in an act of tearing that veil from top to bottom, conveying eloquently and powerfully the glorious message that God is now accessible through Jesus Christ.

8:31 All priesthood and all earthly sacrifices are now done away and rendered unnecessary. God Himself opens the way to His presence through the rending of that veil subsequent to the death of Jesus. There are two other miracles that immediately follow the death of our Lord Jesus. Miracles which only Matthew...

9:01 Matthew records. And this morning we're going to look at the first of the two other groupings of miracles. We read in Matthew 27 that not only was the veil rent from the top to the bottom, but in 51b of Matthew 27 we also read, And the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent. That group of activities...

9:33 The shaking or the quaking of the earth and the tearing of the rocks constitute one unit, one miracle in essence. And then the opening of the tombs and the coming forth of the bodies and their subsequent appearance in Jerusalem after the resurrection of our Lord constitute the third miracle or grouping of activities. Which constitute a unit of miracles. And this morning we're going to focus our meditations upon this second of those miracles

10:16 by which God speaks, as I have said, mysteriously, awesomely, powerfully and eloquently from Golgotha. God's message in the miracle of the earthquake and the rent. And we will follow the same outline as we did last Lord's Day. We will consider first of all the form of God's message in this miracle.

10:45 Secondly, the substance or the heart of God's message in this miracle. And thirdly, the application of the message of this miracle to our own hearts. First of all, in what form did the message of this particular miracle, come to those who were there upon Golgotha moments after the death of the Lord Jesus? Or possibly even attending the very yielding up of His Spirit.

11:20 Not only did the hand of God tear the veil in the temple back in the city of Jerusalem, but the mighty hand of God shook the earth and tore down. The rocks. The text says that there was first of all an earthquake and the earth quaked. And the standard word for the earth quaking is used in this particular passage.

11:51 The noun earthquake is found far more frequently in the New Testament. And that noun is taken from this verb. And you will recognize it. The moment I mention.

12:04 It is seismos. From which we get our word seismograph.

12:12 Which measures the force and the intensity of an earthquake. So what God did upon the death of His Son was to send a discernible earthquake. At least in that immediate area of Palestine. And we know that it was an earthquake of sufficient.

12:36 Magnitude as to gather the attention of anyone who was there for verse 54 says. They that were with him watching Jesus when they saw the earthquake. It was a quake of sufficient magnitude not only to be felt in terms of a mild tremor beneath one's feet. But one that brought visual impact upon the eyes of those.

13:06 Who were in the area where it occurred. Whether there was an actual heaving of that rocky hill Golgotha. Whether the crosses actually swayed in their rocky sockets upon that skull shaped brow. I do not know.

13:27 But the text forces upon us the conclusion. That the form of God's message. Was an earthquake a standard shaking of the earth of sufficient magnitude not only to be felt but the effects of it to be seen. Everyone present in that area experienced regardless of how indifferent or careless he may have been to all of the previous incidents surrounding the cross.

14:03 Everyone was forced into that. That horror eerie unhinging terrifying experience of the heaving of the earth beneath beneath his feet. The rumble the rock and the tremble of a real bonafide earthquake. I have never been in the midst of one.

14:27 I have read enough and I have spoken to enough people including our dear friends Chip and June Youngens. Who were out in California. Very near to the recent earthquake to know that I've yet to meet a person who has passed through an earthquake who is felt that any combination of words in any degree can begin to describe the horrible frightening almost experience feeling the earth beneath one's feet rumbling rocking trembling. And beginning to see.

15:10 Everything that is a symbol of stability and immovable miss coming to pieces at the seams are into my hand I commend my spirit and the first discernible reaction to those at that place upon Golgotha for the rending of the veil was back in the city of Jerusalem in the temple was this. Supernatural intervention.

15:42 Mention of God in causing an earthquake that could be felt and seen then the form of the message also included not only an earthquake but notice the text again and as a separate and distinct though related event and you'll remember in describing Golgotha there is general agreement that it is.

16:19 It has reference to a piece of real estate outside the city wall of Jerusalem that is a very rocky skull shaped piece of real estate and there upon Golgotha not only was there a heaving not only a rocking and a shaking of the earth and an earthquake but the verb used for rend is exactly the same word used. Of the. Splitting of the temple there. Precisely the same verb.

16:54 And as that veil was. In two. End in the ordinary geological structure in which rocks were not merely shifted but they were torn asunder and there are some who have with devout heart and mind gone to various parts of. Palestine.

17:22 Places near Jerusalem. And. Bear witness that there. Is.

17:28 Discernible to the human eye. And unusual structure of rock in the place that may be Golgotha where entirely contrary to the natural lines of the ordinary straight up of the rock years as though they were split across the grain. Those of you who've made the trip out to the Delaware water gap. I trust you never cease to be amazed as I.

17:56 Am every time I make that trip. Out. To Pennsylvania by way of route 80. You see the bear rock of the gap and there at one point the rock formation you can see the lines is at a degree of more than 45 degrees well imagine.

18:15 If the next time you went there you saw a split right across that it right angles it would be one thing to see things split and slide along. The. The natural strata of the rock. But entirely contrary to that again.

18:32 Would get your attention and get it very quickly especially if it happened in front of your own eyes.

18:40 No sooner does the son of God dismisses spirit. But that God speaks in this second miracle. And the form of God's speaking. An earthquake.

18:53 Visible. Rending and splitting of solid rock formations. Before. The eyes of people already being shaken by an earthquake.

The Substance of God's Message: Peculiar Presence in Blessing and Judgment

19:08 Now that's the form of the miracle is best I understand the language of the text. Now then secondly what is the heart or the meaning of the message of this miracle of the earthquake and the rent rocks is God saying. And in answer to that question. Let me affirm that if we are responsibly to discover what God was saying in that miracle.

19:40 We must remember the basic mindset of those who were present to behold it. Who was there at Golgotha. According to the passage as we have worked our way through primarily in the gospel of Mark. There were various Jews present on that occasion.

20:02 We read later on. In the text in Mark and shall have occasion to study it God willing in several weeks that devout women were looking from afar upon this scene. There's another group of people who were present who went away wailing for the things they had seen and beating upon their breasts. There were the Roman soldiers so fundamentally we had pagan Romans and we had Jews.

20:33 Now though in many areas the Romans and the Jews were worlds apart in their perspectives concerning truth. Indeed a common denominator to both the pagan Romans and the unbelieving Jews and the common denominator was this. They both believed in an open ended universe. Now what do I mean by that simply this.

21:02 That in the case of the Jews. They believe that the God. Who spoke in Genesis 1 1 and brought worlds into being out of the womb of nothing by the sheer word of his mouth. That that God did not close up his universe and exclude himself from it.

21:21 Leaving it to operate only by implanted ingrained inherent laws physical and otherwise. And never again would God break into that universe and reverse or suspend. The law of gravity reverse or suspend the ordinary course of the sun in its journey across the heavens. No the Bible which taught the Jews that God created all things taught that he left his universe open to intrude upon it at any point that he so chose to intrude upon it in what the Bible calls a miracle.

22:03 So when God desires to. Part the Red Sea that his ancient people might cross on dry land he intrudes upon the ordinary laws which determine the flow of rivers and all of the physical forces God intrudes upon them and suspends them. The Jews believed in an open universe even these leading Jews. That's why when they saw that man who was.

22:38 Blind from birth they said who did sin this man or his parents that he should be born blind you see they believe that a problem with the retinas a problem with the cornea that rendered a man blind was not just bad luck. They believed that God intruded upon his universe in terms of bringing retribution for sin in the form of physical sickness.

23:07 That's why Jesus in Luke 13 said now you people. Think that those people on whom the tower of Siloam felt must be sinners greater than others you see he could assume that the Jews did not believe in just bad luck when they heard the big in the news event of the past few days that a certain tower fell upon some people and killed them 18 of them they immediately reasoned God must have been judging some sinners who were peculiarly culpable. They believed in an open.

23:40 Universe where God intruded by direct and special providence and where God could intrude by miracle now even the pagan Romans with their many gods believed that their gods could intrude into the universe you remember that incident in Paul's missionary journeys in Acts 14 escape shipwreck they land on the shore they're building a fire Paul takes the place of a servant he doesn't wait for everyone to wait on him.

24:12 But he gladly goes and gathers up the firewood and as he's throwing some on the fire a venomous snake scorpion or something passes itself upon him what did those pagans say they said ah this man must be a murderer who though he escaped the vengeance of God in the storm and in the sea yet God the vengeance is coming upon him and then of course in their folly when he shook it off and nothing happened they were ready to make him a god. But though they were polytheists.

24:42 They still believe in an open ended universe now you'll never understand God's message in the miracle of the earthquake in the rent rocks unless you get into that mindset and one of the greatest curses that has come upon western society in the past 100 years greatly aided by the so-called theory of evolution which has become a whole philosophy not only of origins but of existence.

25:13 Is that men think and act and live as though this were a closed universe and because God has allowed us to discover and to analyze and state and in some areas even to harness the very principles by which he operates his world we foolish creatures think because we have come to understand them in part and even to harness them in part we've ruled God out of his world.

25:43 Is that men think and act and live as though this were a closed universe we've closed it over and everything operates by natural law now that was not the context there upon Golgotha whether it was the pagan Roman soldiers whether it was the unbelieving Jews or whether it was the devout women looking from afar they all believed in an open ended universe so that when darkness comes at noon day.

26:16 They know that the God who made the sun and light has intervened to pull down the shade over that whole area of Palestine and when they feel the earth shake beneath their feet and see other objects swaying beneath the influence of that earthquake and when their eyes behold a tearing of rocks against their natural grace.

26:46 They understand that God is present and that God is and that God is speaking now then having established the mindset into which this message came what was God conveying to that mindset in this miraculous extraordinary event of the earthquake in the rending of the rocks what is God saying.

God's Nearness in Covenantal Blessing: Scriptural Proof

27:19 Well let me assert and then look at several specimen passages to demonstrate and to prove simply stated the message was this God was peculiarly present at Golgotha going near in covenantal blessing and in righteous judgment that was the message of the earthquake and the rent rocks that God was not absent. That when Jesus.

27:53 Cried my God my God why has thou forsaken me God had not abandoned the scene for no sooner does the shout of triumph go up from his lips it is finished and he dismisses his spirit and bows his head but the earth begins to rock and the rocks are torn and speaking in that way God is saying I am indeed present present as the God of God.

28:23 God of covenant mercy present as the God of righteous judgment now I've asserted let me attempt to prove this from several specimen passages this is not exhaustive but I give you these specimen passages turn to Exodus 19 as we first of all established that in the earthquake God is conveying his nearness in covenantal blessing. His nearness.

28:55 As the God of covenantal blessing and grace Exodus chapter 19 for most of you the setting of this passage will be very familiar Exodus chapter 19 God has brought his people out of Egypt God is wonderfully assured them of his presence in the pillar of fire by night in the cloud by day he's providing for them in the.

29:25 Manor that is there upon the ground six days of every week in double portion there on the sixth day that they might not gather on the Sabbath and here in Exodus chapter 19 God is preparing his people and Moses that he might give to them the ten words those words which embody their covenant responsibilities and God.

29:56 God's engagement to be their people and as God is preparing his servant and his people notice how he conveys in symbolic language that he is drawing near as the God of the covenant Exodus 19 7 and Moses came and called for the elders of the people and set before them all these words.

30:26 Which the Lord commanded him and the people answered together and said all that the Lord has spoken we will do the previous verses God had said if you will do this and this and this I will be your God and you shall be my people God was setting out the turns of that covenantal engagement and the people answered and said all that the Lord has spoken we will do and Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.

30:56 And Jehovah said unto Moses now notice low I come unto thee in a thick cloud that the people may hear when I speak with thee and may also believe thee forever the God whose presence is with them in the fire and in the cloud is going to draw.

31:26 Near in a unique way to the mediator of this covenant Moses and he's going to attest his nearness verse 10 and the Lord said unto Moses go unto the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow and let them wash their garments and be ready against the third day or the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people.

31:57 On Mount Sinai thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about saying take heed to yourselves that you go not up to the mount or touch the border of it whosoever touches the mount shall surely be put to death and the warning is given and the trumpet is sounded they shall gather now then verse 16 and it came to pass on the third day when it was morning that there were thunders and lightnings.

32:27 And a thick cloud upon the mount and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud and all the people that were in the camp trembled thunders lightning thick cloud the voice of a trumpet and the people that were in the camp trembled Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God and they stood at the nether part of the mount and Mount Sinai the whole.

32:58 Of it smoked because the Lord descended upon it in fire and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace and the whole mount quaked greatly one of the primary enters to the unique presence of God in addition to the fire and to the thunder was the earthquake that mighty mountain shook as though it were made.

33:30 A paper mache that whole mount quaked when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder Moses spoke and God answered him etc. Here then in this very special setting God indicates his own peculiar nearness as the God of covenantal blessing in the midst of a great earthquake.

34:03 In the place of his special presence with his appointed mediator then turn to first Kings chapter 19 just specimen passages to demonstrate that the Jews would indeed have understood the significance of that earthquake upon Golgotha and the rending of the rocks first Kings chapter 19 here in the familiar story of Elijah the man of God.

34:35 Like passions discouraged weary emotionally spent and he has a death wish he wants God to take his life and he comes to a cave first Kings 19 9 and he came hither unto a cave and lodged there the whole the word of the Lord came to him and he said unto him what are you doing here Elijah and he said I've been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken.

35:08 I covenant thrown down your altars and slain your prophets with the sword and I even I only am left and they seek my life to take it away and he said go forth and stand upon the mount before Jehovah now notice and behold Jehovah passed by and what were the accompaniments of this peculiar presence.

35:40 Jehovah passing by the man of God and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before Jehovah of the rocks but Jehovah was not in the earthquake that is the special voice of God to his servant the earthquake accompany need God's special presence.

36:13 The whole Jehovah passed by and in his passing by there was a rending of the rocks but now notice and after the wind and earthquake but Jehovah was not in the earthquake that is in it to speak his special word of consolation to his servant but he surrounded his special presence with the rending of the rocks and with an earthquake and out of that.

36:45 Context he comes in covenant faithfulness now not to a nation but to a discouraged exhausted spent emotionally frazzled prophet and ministers grace to him and then I ask you to turn to the book of Haggai under the minor prophets third from the end of the Old Testament Haggai Zechariah Malachi so go back from Malachi Zechariah Malachi.

37:17 Zechariah to Haggai one of the great prophets of the restoration and notice when God is describing the coming day of blessing under Messiah and the new covenant notice the language he uses Haggai to verses six to nine for the set the Lord of hosts yet once it is a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land and I will shake all the earth. the nations and the precious things of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of hosts the silver is mine the gold is mine saith the Lord the

38:00 latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former saith Jehovah of hosts and in this place will I give peace saith Jehovah of hosts as God is using vivid imagery to say what he will do in blessing the place of his special dwelling he says he will establish that in terms of Old Testament language of a temple of greater glory the influence of which shall extend to the ends of the earth but he says I will do it in the midst of what shaking the heavens shaking the earth shaking the sea shaking the dry land I come with blessings to abound in the new covenant

38:43 and the symbol of his coming is the shaking of the earthquake and what about the New Testament I'll turn to Acts chapter 4 you remember the setting the servants of God have faced their first open opposition they have sought to be faithful in their witness being let go after having been threatened they go back to their own company and they have a prayer meeting and in their prayer meeting they acknowledge that they have been threatened and they have been threatened and they have been threatened and they have been threatened and they have been threatened and they have been threatened God is on his throne even though wicked men seem to be having their day and in this

39:21 marvelously biblical prayer they cry to God not for deliverance from trouble but boldness to preach in the confidence that God laughs at men's attempts to overthrow the reign of his son and at the end of their prayer what happens Acts 4 31 and when they had prayed the place was taken wherein they were gathered together he said that might have been frightening yes consolation because you see these are God's blood-bought servants seeking to proclaim the name

40:06 and salvation of God's dear son and human institutions and men are gathered against them and they cry to God and ask for boldness and God comes and says look my special son and special presence is with you in covenant faithfulness and power and I'll give you a little token of who I am I'm the God who shakes and so God gives that building a shake how intense or extensive the shaking was we do not know but we know it was a shaking in the context of covenant mercy for it says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit he wasn't shaking them

40:49 to awaken them to judgment he was shaking them to assure them of his presence and he fills them afresh with the Holy Spirit they might preach the word of God and remember when he's about to come in mercy to a pagan Roman jailer what did he do Acts chapter 16 and verse 26 you're familiar with it most of you I'm sure two of the servants of God are imprisoned and what happens they're singing praises to God at midnight no pity parties counting it a privilege to suffer

41:30 for the name of Christ and in the midst of that we read in Acts 16 and verse 26 these very simple but straightforward words that point us again to the significance of the earthquake Acts 16 and verse 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake

41:53 so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bands were loosed I like to look upon this as God's tailor made earthquake he so engineered every tremor that the house didn't cave in just the doors flew open the walls just the mortar that held people's bands got loose enough that they were all freed mighty God you talk about an open universe

42:28 to see that earth was the indication of the nearness of God blessing because he had purposes of mercy for that jailer in his family and the earthquake in a sense was God's first summons to get his attention and in a short time that man's falling down trembling crying out serves what must I do to be saved the servants of God preach the word of God to him in his household and there is household salvation and household baptism by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit's The Holy Spirit is the strength of God. There's no other salvation without some of God's grace and mercy There's no other salvation without His grace The Holy Spirit is the strength of God. And when an earthly patreon listening prayer. We are suddenly made to hear that the Lord is really trying to find a way out of지만ia what was his desire that He did to leave this cor annula which turns up the breakthrough in the world to this day along with His holy land between heaven and the world.

God's Nearness in Righteous Anger and Judgment: Scriptural Proof

43:04 that very night God who shakes but shakes as the evidence of his nearness in covenantal blessing and mercy but then I've said the earthquake also symbolizes in scripture and I must hurry the nearness of God in righteous anger and judgment here I again point you to two texts in the Old Testament and two in the New and will simply quote the other references Isaiah 5 and verse 25 I pass over Psalm 18 6 and 7 turn to Isaiah 5 and verse 25 here is the negative side the darker side the foreboding side

43:48 of the symbol and the voice of God in the earthquake Isaiah 5 and verse 25 therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people the prophet has indicted them for rejecting the law of God therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people and he hath stretched forth his hand against them and smitten them and the mountains tremble and their dead bodies are his refuse in the midst of the street for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still here is the

44:31 hand of God stretched out not calling his people into covenant blessing and engagement but stretched out in anger and the arm stretched out in anger is stretched out in the context according to Isaiah of the trembling of the earth he hath smitten them and the mountains tremble chapter 13 and verse 13 of Isaiah a similar emphasis therefore I make the heavens to tremble and the earth shall be shaken out of its place in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of his fierce anger

45:15 you find similar references in Jeremiah 10 6 and Jeremiah 10 10 but then when we turn to the book of the revelation and look at the pictures the graphic images of the final awesome last day of judgment notice the presence of a shaking earth revelation 6 and verse 12 and I saw when he opened the sixth seal and there was a great voice of God to get the intention of man that he's coming forth in judgment he

45:58 shakes the earth with a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the moon became his blood and then that description goes on until it focuses upon men verse 6 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks fall on us here the mountains and the rocks are shaking and heaving all about and they cry that those very rocks will come down upon us why because they know it is a shaking and wrath hide us from the face of him that sits upon the throne and from the wrath of the lamb for the great day of their wrath is come

46:41 and who shall be able to stand you find the same thing in chapter 16 and verse 17 and the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air and there came forth a great voice out of the temple from the throne saying it is done and there were lightnings and voices and thunders and there was a great earthquake such as was not since there were men upon the earth so great and earthquakes so

47:22 mighty and then god goes on to describe his judgments that come with the upheaval of the earthquake being the forerunner well we could see the same in revelation 8 5 11 13 i don't want to wear you but i am convinced that i must carry your judgment with sufficient scripture and am satisfied in my own mind according to my present light given not this cursed closed universe mentality of modern western thought but the open universe

48:00 mentality of even paid soldiers for remember it says when the soldier in his companions saw the earthquake they said surely this is Gods son knew that god was speaking in the earthquake yet the every thing that was happening was Dimitris speaking about what was happening at the moment why etc I was thinking about the currents of God and the acid of the earth but the answer is clear no the question of people taking part in worship in the earth earthquake and the Jews as well knew that God was speaking in the earthquake Matthew 27 54 is clear I've already alluded to that Matthew 27 and verse 54 where the emphasis falls upon the pagan Roman

48:42 soldier and his companions and we are told that when the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done feared exceedingly saying they were afraid not because there was an accident of nature there was an intervention of God concerning and likewise an unnamed group in Luke 23 who were obviously Jews we find a similar

49:25 statement verse 47 of Luke 23 and when the centurion saw was done he glorified God saying certainly this was a righteous man now notice and all the multitudes that came together to this site when they beheld the things that were done returned smiting their breasts they didn't return scared of the physical implications of the earthquake they returned with the conviction that Almighty God Jehovah God of the

50:03 covenant was there in that God and that the God of the covenant was from that horrible gruesome scene now that's my understanding of the heart of the message of the earthquake and the rocks and now as we bring the message to a conclusion in the third place what is the application of this message to us this place is not rocking with an earthquake this morning we don't look out to any rock structure

Application: God Establishes New Covenant Blessings

50:43 and see them rent and torn but my friend listen God is saying something to you and me as real and as relevant and as authoritative as though you and I were standing this morning upon Golgotha if we could be put in a time capsule and shot backward two thousand years so that we could beneath our feet and we could see the swaying of physical objects and we could God is saying something to us whether we stop our voice fingers in our ears and refuse to hear his voice is another thing but God is speaking

51:23 nonetheless as he spoke then to pagan Roman and unbelieving Jew and devout onlookers in the light of a completed revelation we can as it were here much more clearly God's voice in the earthquake and in the rent rocks just as we could hear his voice much more clearly last week looking at that rent railing the temple through the eyes of the book of Hebrews we understood more than the priests who stood in front of his disciples had ran in and stood before the rail director was rand with the light of the book of Hebrews

52:07 we understand more of the rent rail than an eyewitness could have understood the soul I quiets with god's voice in a miracle the trembling earth in the rent rocks viewing it from the completed light of revelation What is God saying? God is saying these two things. Number one, I have come in connection with the death of my son to establish and confer covenantal blessings.

52:39 Even blessings of the new covenant. I, the God, came to my ancient people amidst lightning, thunder, and quaking to enter into that temporary covenant and all that surrounds it. I am the God who now has come pledging all of the mercies and blessings of a new covenant. I have appeared to withdraw from the universe.

53:14 I have pulled down the shade over the horrible scene of Golgotha. I've heard your taunts. I've heard the cry of dereliction from my son and to all sight and appearance it may seem as though I have vacated if not my throne, Golgotha. God says no.

53:42 And as soon as his ears hear the cry into thy hand, my spirit, God says I want to speak my amen and says I have come to add my amen to the shout of triumph of my son. And it is finished. It is finished. I have come pledging all of the blessings of the new covenant.

54:19 I draw near in the symbol of earthquake and torn rocks. For did not Jesus say the night before this cup is the new covenant in my blood. And when the blood is shed and that covenant is sealed and ratified God can't. God cannot be silent.

54:42 And so God speaks in the voice of the earthquake and in the voice of the rent rocks. And oh my sinner friend what a word to you. Dear boy, girl, man or woman I've begged you. I've pleaded with you in recent weeks by the wounds and contusions and bruises of the son of God.

55:06 I've pled with you by the darkened heavens by the cries of abandonment. I've pleaded to take seriously what God in Christ has done for sinners. Now I add to my pleas. Not only do I plead that you take seriously your need of Christ and God's willingness to receive you as you are a vile, filthy, helpless sinner.

55:35 But I plead with you not only by his wounds and his blood-soaked forms. And his agony and his cry. But by the trembling and by the torn rod God is saying I've come in covenant mercy to sinners in the death of my son. Oh my friend.

56:00 Go to the mediator of the new covenant the Lord Jesus. God has validated his covenant blessings shaking the earth rending the rocks things that could be touched and felt and seen and heard to his people. To encourage you and not be seen. Not see the blessings of the new covenant.

56:24 I surely can see heaving trees and swaying crosses on a rocky hill called Golgotha. I cannot feel forgiveness with my fingers but I can feel it beneath my feet.

56:40 But I can even see and touch and hear. God says I'm the God who has established a new covenant in my son. Promising I will be I will not remember sin and iniquity. I will give you a new heart.

57:00 I will put my spirit within you. Oh my friend what more can God say than what he has said. And child of God dear child of God don't forget the message of God to you. In the shaking earth and in the splitting rock yes the veil was rent by the hand of God the way was opened into the presence of God yes but remember that same God shook the earth and split the rocks.

57:35 Why? His special presence was there in the inauguration in the sealing in the ratification of that covenant in which God has promised not one of your sins will meet you in the day of judgment. That you will know him. He'll put his fear within your heart and cause you to keep his ways.

58:03 And when eternal things seem to grow dim and spiritual realities begin to seem like shadows stand somewhere and try to relive what you've heard this morning. Try to feel the shaking earth and say no lie. You cannot lie.

58:26 I will not doubt your word. This is the covenant I will make with them after those days. And argue from afar a rocking earth and splitting rocks to rest in the Lord Jesus. But then God says this second and final thing.

Application: God's Judgment and Righteous Wrath

58:48 God says I've come in judgment and in righteous wrath. You see they understood the symbolism of the earthquake. And as it appeared that God was not there to intervene when God shakes the earth and splits the rocks he said yes I have been present. I have been present not only in a work of mercy in covenantal faithfulness but I have been present in judgment and in righteous wrath.

59:20 My judgment and my wrath has been vented upon my son.

59:26 He who knew no sin has become sin. I have poured out all the vials of my wrath upon the sins of my people in the person of the surety and the mediator. God is saying what he has done. I have been present in a work of judgment and so he shakes the earth.

59:51 The symbol of his presence in judgment. He rends the rocks. The symbol of his presence in judgment. But he's also saying something else and that's why a group of them went back beating their breasts.

60:06 I will yet come in the final earthquake and in the final splitting of the rocks to deal with all my enemies. My friend, listen to me. As surely as the earth shook there at Golgotha, as sure as the rocks were split, a day is coming when the great earthquake will occur. When this present world order as we now know it is going to be overturned.

60:38 What will you do then? Do you really want to meet this God who can shake and go naked into his hands as a guilty, vile, wretched, hell-deserving sinner? Not wrapped in the righteousness of Christ? Do you really want to deal with a God like that outside of Christ?

61:07 I ask you, man, woman, boy or girl, I'm not here doing my preacher's thing.

61:14 This morning, after a short night laboring in these things just to get my paycheck, there's some sermons many of you have never heard of. Preach them.

61:36 Serial things. Serial things. Serial things. Serial things.

61:36 Serial things. He is coming.

61:47 And if you're found then as you are now,

61:54 I for rocks and mountains to fall upon you from the wrath of him that sits on the throne.

62:05 Oh, may God help you to flee from the wrath to come. Flee from the wrath to come. We're not asking you to give a dime to the church. We're not asking you to walk an aisle drawing to church.

62:19 What we're saying is run to him whose lifeless body shook when the earth fell. Earthquake struck Golgotha, whose lifeless ears didn't hear the cracking and the splitting of the rocks,

62:37 but who was there that sinners like you and me might have a refuge. Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. Let the water and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed be of sin the double cure. Save me from its guilt and power.

63:08 Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. Lord, though that cross totters in the earthquake that affirms covenant mercy, and that is the prediction of final judgment, though it swayed, I cling. Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. Foul!

63:33 The fountain fly. Wash me, Savior.

63:40 Oh, Fred, go and be washed, ere you die. Ere you die. God speaks from Golgotha. He splits the veil.

Concluding Prayer and Exhortation

64:02 He shakes the earth. He rends the rocks.

64:09 Sinner, why will ye die? Let us pray.

64:19 Oh, Father, what can we say when we have sought to plead, to warn, to entreat, to reason with those who are yet in their sins, and yet we cannot move their hearts, we cannot bend their wills, but, oh, God, you are able. Will you not this morning come, and in mercy, oh, great God, who has rescued many of us from our justly deserved end in everlasting hell, come in mercy and rescue others, and for your dear people who have fled for refuge, to the Lord Jesus, when they doubt, and when their faith is weak,

65:03 oh, God, take them back to Golgotha. Take them back, not only to the shout of triumph and the cry of dereliction, but take them back to the earthquake and the rent rocks, and may their faith be strengthened. Oh, God, in mercy and in grace, seal your word to our hearts. This morning we plead.

65:24 May the great day reveal, that this word was not preached in vain. We thank you for our Lord Jesus. We bless you for the triumphs of his cross. Oh, from our hearts we say, Hallelujah.

65:41 What a Savior. Accept our thanks, and may we prove our gratitude by lives of loving obedience.