The New Madrid zone of American earthquake faults runs from southern Illinois to northeastern Arkansas and includes the St. Louis and Memphis areas. Recent geological activity in this zone is causing considerable concern.

Major quakes occurred in that area during the early 1800s, at one point even causing the Mississippi River to flow backwards for a time. Officials stated that "a repeat today of the earthquakes of 1811-1812 would cause widespread loss of life and billions of dollars in property damage" (USA Today).

Meanwhile in California, more traditional earthquake country, "U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones remembers attending an emergency training session in August 2001 with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that discussed the three most likely catastrophes to strike the United States" (Los Angeles Times).

First was a terrorist attack on New York, second a powerful hurricane flooding New Orleans, and third a major earthquake in California along the San Andreas fault. Now, in the wake of the first two actually happening with 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, Lucy Jones and others are reassessing how the Golden State would cope with a major quake.

Jesus Christ foretold that major earthquakes in different places would be one of the signs that would trouble our planet before the end of this age (Matthew 24:7). Request or download our free booklet Are We Living in the Time of the End? It will give you a broad overview of those telling events that will characterize the end of the age of man. (Sources: USA Today, Los Angeles Times.)