ich lies at a depth of 700 meters to 1,000 meters. The geological structure of layers surrounding the hydrate, and the degree of stability regarding drill holes and pipes, are among the subjects to be surveyed. The Chikyu uses state-of-the-art equipment able to drill as deep as 7,000 meters under the seabed."
On 11 March 2011, the world witnessed one of the most powerful earthquakes since 1900, devastating the country of Japan...
On 7 March 2011, in response to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, two US gas drilling companies agreed to suspend specific operations at wells near Arkansas after their work was linked to nearby earthquakes...
Is it possible, that either of the massive earthquakes which devastated Japan and New Zealand, can be connected to invasive deep drilling?
(Morningstar C. Are we there yet? Drilling and Earthquakes. Sunday, March 27, 2011. http://www.huntingtonnews.net/2768
While humans do not think that they cause earthquakes, simply concentrating the construction of multiple buildings along the coastlines would also seem to change the dynamics of mass on the earth and perhaps be the proverbial "last straw" to trigger an earthquake. Even blasting off rockets affects the earth.
Hence, while I am not claiming that drilling for methane hydrate caused Japan's 9.0 earthquake, it seems that human activity may sometimes be a factor in some earthquakes.
Jesus discussed earthquakes in His Olivet prophecy (a series of prophetic statements He made on the Mount of Olives).
Jesus taught that prior to the great tribulation, during a time called "the beginning of sorrows", that His followers would notice earthquakes:
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8, NKJV throughout unless otherwise indicated).
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)
11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)
Now, these earthquakes happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (which is listed as beginning in Matthew 24:21, Mark 13:19, and Luke 21:23). More information on the Great Tribulation and the "beginning of sorrows" can be found in the article Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2015, 2016, or 2017? For years, I have wondered if the "beginning of sorrows" began in 2009, and the acceleration of certain earthquakes may be confirming that.
Notice that in Luke's account "great earthquakes" are mentioned. Considering the death toll from Haiti's 7.0 earthquake in 2010, it would seem that Jesus may have considered that earthquakes of that magnitude (or perhaps even a bit smaller) were great earthquakes (the USGS definition standards on classification are a relatively recent development).
Perhaps it should be mentioned that there was an earthquake when Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:54), plus the Bible records that there was a great earthquake that removed the stone from His tomb (Matthew 28:2) and another one that freed Paul and Silas from prison (Acts 16:26). Earthquakes are mentioned in the Bible and prophesied in the Bible.
Jesus also taught more about earthquakes throughout the Book of Revelation (also known as the Book of the Apocalypse). One aspect of them in Revelation is that the term for earthquake is always singular in it, as opposed to the plural term for earthquakes that were associated with the beginning of sorrows that Jesus referred to during His Mount of Olives discourse.
Here is the first time an earthquake is mentioned in Revelation:
5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:5)
This particular earthquake happens after the great tribulation began and