Earthquakes in Scripture are frequently understood to be manifestations of God’s power (see Exodus 19:18; Psalm 68:8; Psalm 77:18; Psalm 114:4–7). The precise purpose of manifesting his power may vary from instance to instance, but typically it has to do with God’s going out to battle (see Judges 5:4; Psalm 68:7–8; Joel 2:10–11) and executing judgment on the nations or the wicked (Isaiah 13:13; Isaiah 24:18–20; Jeremiah 10:10; Nahum 1:5–6). Haggai mentions a final earthquake on the last day (Haggai 2:6, quoted in Hebrews 12:26–27). Earthquakes remind people that only God himself provides stability in this world; even the ground under our feet is ultimately not reliable. With the opening of the sixth seal John observes a “great” earthquake, one not limited to a local area but affecting the whole earth—with terrible consequences.
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,