A Massive Quake Coming to Christ's Church

According to the New Zealand Herald, the city of Christchurch had been “left devastated by a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake,” which struck at 4:35 A.M. the morning of Saturday, September 4th.

My wife presented this information to me earlier in the week, and we both came to the immediate conclusion that this particular “shaking” was undeniably prophetic. Come on. I mean, there was a massive quaking in a place called Christchurch. Now, whether or not this specific event was purposefully orchestrated by the Lord to make an intentional prophetic statement to Christ’s church, I cannot say for sure. All I know is that our spirits resonated with the spiritual wakeup call that is clearly paralleled through this natural disaster.

New Zealand Herald reporter and Christchurch resident, Jarrod Booker, was awoken by what he described as an “extremely violent shaking” that morning. I believe there is a “Jarrod Booker” generation strategically positioned in Christ’s church that is being prepped for an “extremely violent shaking.”

According to the author of Hebrews,

…but now He [God] has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

First, we observe that God has sovereignly orchestrated a “shaking” that would impact two realms: The earth and the heavens. The shaking purposed to awaken God’s instrument for restoration and heaven’s establishment on Earth, the “church,” is part of God’s agenda for the ages. Though uncomfortable and confrontational, this sovereign shaking is ordained and either we can embrace it or fight Him kicking and screaming. It’s ultimate culmination is Jesus’ physical, visible return to the Earth. The key to spiritual survival? Loving and pursuing the Unshakeable more than the shakeable. Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.

Secondly, we ask, “What exactly does this shaking mean for earth and heaven?” Things in the Earth need to adapt to things in heaven. This starts in and with the Church, the gate of heaven to a lost and sin-stained world. Yes, Jesus is The Gate. However, where is Jesus presently located? He calls the church His “body” for good reason, as this is one of His two current residences (in the church and at the Father’s right hand), and there, we become administrators of heaven in the earth, through preaching the Gospel of salvation and seeing the Lordship of Jesus dominate every arena previously affected and impacted by the stain of sin. The heavens will shake as God’s will for His church is supernaturally released from His realm into this one. Rest assured, the shaking “on Earth” will be violent, for the schism between how things currently operate in God’s realm and how they operate in what we know today as the church are worlds apart… and shouldn’t be!

Third, we give definition to terminology that could be otherwise construed as hyper-spiritual ambiguity. In other words, what elements and attributes are being translated from heaven to the Earth? What does it look like… practically? The answer is simple: Jesus. Manifesting and re-presenting Jesus, on earth, is the destiny of the Church, and I believe that God is bringing this high call to His people again. The day of innumerable books, teaching series’, conferences and seminars attempting to answer the age-old question, “What is God’s Will for My Life?” is reaching its consummation, as the Answer will be profoundly and simply, Jesus. His compassion. His love. His signs, wonders and miracles. His teaching. His Kingdom. His restorative will, “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him…” (Eph 1:10, KJV).

In Hebrews 12, we read that the elements that are shakable will be shaken, so that when the shaking concludes, all that will be left are the things that cannot be shaken. In short, God is shaking the world out of His church and is in turn replacing it with Jesus, the Inaugurator and Advancer of the unshakeable Kingdom. All that’s built on the sand will come crashing down, but that which is established on the Rock will never be moved.

I pray that we’re ready, for God will either shake to or shake through his Church. He’s more concerned about His glory than our comfort and His Son being made manifest than us being happy behind the four walls of our padded church bunkers. You can see why a shaking’s coming. For too long, we’ve been content “doing” church on our terms, in our buildings, through our programs, and in turn, have lived endlessly below the inheritance of Christ in us, the hope of glory.