Revelation 6:12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal and behold there was a great earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

EGW in Great Controversy page 30305-306 wrote:
"These signs were witnessed before the opening of the present century. In fulfillment of this prophecy there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake that has ever been recorded...(a graphic description included)...Twenty-five years later appeared the next sign mentioned in the prophecy,?the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered this more striking was the fact that the time of its fulfillment had been definitely pointed out. In the Saviour's conversation with his disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church?the 1260 years of papal persecution, concerning which he had promised that the tribulation should be shortened?he thus mentioned certain events to precede his coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: ?In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.? [Mark 13:24.]

Was this just another earthquake -- or did it mark a BIG CHANGE in the course of history as it began to enter into the time of the end?
The time Daniel also predicted as the "the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Dan 12:4

A film may present an answer:

"The earthquake that changed the course of history

"he 1755 earthquake of Lisbon had such a profound effect on the world that we are still feeling its impact today. As well as devastating one of the most important cities of the 18th century, it shook the thinking of the time.

"Many believed the earthquake was a punishment from God. Others wondered if science was a better way to the understand the universe and how it works. We now associate these thinkers with the Age of Enlightenment, a period of history that led to the French Revolution and the American War of Independence.

Video by Izabela Cardoso & Fernando Teixeira The earth quake that changed the course of history

Near the end of the 1260 years the signs appeared marking the beginning of the "time of the end".
1755 the Lisbon earthquake shook the world and the thinking of the time.


ARGUMENT FOR DUAL PROPHECY?
Oh, some will say, that is an prime example that the apocalyptic prophecies have dual fulfillment.

RESPONSE

That argument is based on thinking apocalyptic "PROPHECY" will be repeated, when in actuality, HISTORY is often repeated. However, there is a big difference in prophecy being repeated and history being repeated. It is not correct to assume just because historical powers or events reoccur that a previously fulfilled prophecy is reoccurring.

Yes, the bible does show that a great earthquake will happen AGAIN. There will be strange things happening in the sky AGAIN. It's not a repeat of prophecy, but it is a repeat of a terrible earthquake.
The linear prophecy has several earthquakes at strategic periods of time.

Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great.



When the earthquake of Revelation 16:17 takes place during the seventh plague, it will be TOO LATE. Salvation's offer will be over. The voice from heaven declared "it is done". No more time to seek the refuge in Christ that was freely offered. How much more important it is to realize the earthquake in Revelation 6:12 was to shake the world into realizing the "time of the end" was at hand. A time when salvation was freely offered! It was to awaken the people to realize as the coming events in which knowledge and supposed huge progress and so called enlightenment would only ripen the world for the final destruction which the final Revelation 16:17 earthquake announces.

We are living IN THE TIME OF THE END. Today is the day of salvation, today is the day to seek Christ the only way of salvation. Soon it will be too late.

Yes, soon it will be too late, as we are living somewhere between Revelation 6:13 and 14.

I think we are also getting the beginning of the vials of Rev 16...

Revelation 16 King James Version (KJV)
1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...e-burn-area-equivalent-one-fifth-belgium

https://time.com/6202951/california-wildfires-mckinney-2022/

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-08-29/forests-wildfires-california-climate-plan

Rick,

With my understanding that Revelation 16 is referring to the seven last plagues, this is what Ellen White has to say about that:

"Then I saw that Jesus would not leave the most holy place until every case was decided either for salvation or destruction, and that the wrath of God could not come until Jesus had finished His work in the most holy place, laid off His priestly attire, and clothed Himself with the garments of vengeance. Then Jesus will step out from between the Father and man, and God will keep silence no longer, but pour out His wrath on those who have rejected His truth. I saw that the anger of the nations, the wrath of God, and the time to judge the dead were separate and distinct, one following the other, also that Michael had not stood up, and that the time of trouble, such as never was, had not yet commenced. The nations are now getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary, He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out." {Early Writings 36.1}

Yes, the seven last plagues come after the :sunday laws are enforced. That is the great time of trouble as probation closes, and we are warned when that time comes those who have rejected Christ?s gracious offer of salvation and safety will find themselves without cover, unsheltered
We haven?t reached that time yet. The door of mercy is still open, however the restraining power of the Holy Spirit is already being slowly withdrawn from a people who are largely rejecting God and His righteous ways. We are told of a little time of trouble prior to this when probation is open still but calamities, and fearful issues will stimulate the passing of the Sunday laws. This is where I believe we are standing now in time.
The whole ccovd thing and climate change scare and mandates are building up to the enforcement of Sunday.