Two Earthquakes Hit California in 1906: One Natural, One Spiritual

Two Earthquakes hit California in 1906, four days apart.  The first hit Los Angeles April 14, 1906, the 2^nd hit San Francisco April 18, 1906.  The 2^nd has been widely publicized because of the destruction suffered.  As a result of the quakes and fires, about 3,000 people died and over 80% of San Francisco was destroyed.  Though the city rebuilt quickly, the disaster diverted trade, industry and population growth south to Los Angeles, spurring its growth to become the largest and most important urban area in the west.  (Source: Wikipedia.)

The Los Angeles earthquake on April 14, 1906, was of a different sort with rippling effects continuing to this day round the world.  This event, too, was characterized by fire—a most unusual fire.  Sometimes the fire would seem to come from the heavens downward over this one particular building (an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church that had become a stable and had to be cleaned out for use), and other times the fire seemed to emanate from the building reaching heavenward, but most often the flames met.  Repeatedly, fire departments were called to the scene only to be met with a puzzling situation—a building that appeared to be on fire but not burning!

This fiery circumstance was certainly reminiscent of the Day of Pentecost experience: “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2: 3 & 4).

The specific Los Angeles address was 312 Azusa Street, which came to be known round the world as “Azusa Street”.  Yes, though there was a difference in the way the fire of the Holy Spirit was manifest, the same Holy Spirit of God was shepherding both events.  Similarities abounded with persons being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues; powerful preaching which resulted in changed lives; and miracles of healing—perhaps more so at Azusa Street than in the Book of Acts!

But there was one difference between Azusa Street and the Book of Acts—the manifest glory of God which was almost in continual manifestation at Azusa Street, a parallel of which cannot be found in the Book of Acts.  In fact this manifest glory of God, by all accounts was very palpable, where people attempted to breathe it in, lie down and roll in it, one person even attempted to “bottle it”, is most to be compared to the Divine presence that hovered between the cherubim, over the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holy of Holies—whether in the “Tabernacle of Moses” or the Solomon’s Temple or Herod’s Temple.  Attenders & workers quickly learned when the “glory cloud” was heaviest accompanied by fire above the building, something mighty special and powerful was about to happen.

These events which attended the Azusa Street Revival (1906-1910), apparently will be “beginning” hallmarks of the final revival that will sweep the earth prior to the 2^nd return of our Lord.  Such understanding needs to shape our praying and our expectation.

All my Christian life I have known of “Azusa Street”, but only recently have I learned of some of the specifics I’ve shared.  You, too, can learn of them through the book:  Azusa Street—They Told Me Their Stories (The Youth & Children of Azusa Street Tell Their Stories), published 2010.

Order Information:  Individual copies @ azusastories.com or DaretoDream Books @ 405/642-8257 
Bulk Orders: 20-99: $9 each s/h included; 100+: $7.30 each s/h included
Contact Person:  Dr. Jim Morris