From my Brother Ron, along with some late comments --  This information is from a study he started and shared with me.  This may help is seeing where we are coming from on this issue ---  Strong's Numbering system used throughout.  This is a rough draftm meant for consideration and to encourage further study by others in expanding our knowledge concerning our Creator and how He controls what man cannot.

Earthquake or Tempest (Gale)

G4578

se?sµ?´?

seismos

sice-mos'

From G4579; a commotion, that is, (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake: -

      Earthquake found in 10 verses

      Trying to find the a the proper meaning when using the Greek seismos is gale , earthquake or commotion these alone could be underestimated or even not get the correct meaning across then again maybe this is all that’s needed.

The following verses hold to being earthquake by staying in context using the above Greek word  seismos.

Mat 24:7  For^G1063 nation^G1484 shall rise^G1453 against^G1909 nation,^G1484 and^G2532 kingdom^G932 against^G1909 kingdom:^G932 and^G2532 there shall be^G2071 famines,^G3042 and^G2532 pestilences,^G3061 and^G2532 earthquakes,^G4578 in^G2596 divers places.^G5117

Mat 27:54  Now^G1161 when the^G3588 centurion,^G1543 and^G2532 they^G3588 that were with^G3326 him,^G846 watching^G5083 Jesus,^G2424 saw^G1492 the^G3588 earthquake,^G4578 and^G2532 those things that were done,^G1096 they feared^G5399 greatly,^G4970 saying,^G3004 Truly^G230 this^G3778 was^G2258 the Son^G5207 of God.^G2316

Mat 28:2  And,^G2532 behold,^G2400 there was^G1096 a great^G3173 earthquake:^G4578 for^G1063 the angel^G32 of the Lord^G2962 descended^G2597 from^G1537 heaven,^G3772 and came^G4334 and rolled back^G617 the^G3588 stone^G3037 from^G575 the^G3588 door,^G2374 and^G2532 sat^G2521 upon^G1883 it.^G846

Mar 13:8  For^G1063 nation^G1484 shall rise^G1453 against^G1909 nation,^G1484 and^G2532 kingdom^G932 against^G1909 kingdom:^G932 and^G2532 there shall be^G2071 earthquakes^G4578 in divers places,^{G2596 G5117} and^G2532 there shall be^G2071 famines^G3042 and^G2532 troubles:^G5016 these^G5023 are the beginnings^G746 of sorrows.^G5604

Luk 21:11  And^G5037 great^G3173 earthquakes^G4578 shall be^G2071 in divers places,^{G2596 G5117} and^G2532 famines,^G3042 and^G2532 pestilences;^G3061 and^G5037 fearful sights^G5400 and^G2532 great^G3173 signs^G4592 shall there be^G2071 from^G575 heaven.^G3772

Act 16:26  And^G1161 suddenly^G869 there was^G1096 a great^G3173 earthquake,^G4578 so that^G5620 the^G3588 foundations^G2310 of the^G3588 prison^G1201 were shaken:^G4531 and^G5037 immediately^G3916 all^G3956 the^G3588 doors^G2374 were opened,^G455 and^G2532 every one's^G3956 bands^G1199 were loosed.^G447

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The following reference to earthquake is probably correct, again staying within the context of the following verses.

Rev 6:12  And^G2532 I beheld^G1492 when^G3753 he had opened^G455 the^G3588 sixth^G1623 seal,^G4973 and,^G2532 lo,^G2400 there was^G1096 a great^G3173 earthquake;^G4578 and^G2532 the^G3588 sun^G2246 became^G1096 black^G3189 as^G5613 sackcloth^G4526 of hair,^G5155 and^G2532 the^G3588 moon^G4582 became^G1096 as^G5613 blood;^G129

Rev 6:13  And^G2532 the^G3588 stars^G792 of heaven^G3772 fell^G4098 unto^G1519 the^G3588 earth,^G1093 even as^G5613 a fig tree^G4808 casteth^G906 her^G848 untimely figs,^G3653 when she is shaken^G4579 of^G5259 a mighty^G3173 wind.^G417

Rev 6:14  And^G2532 the heaven^G3772 departed^G673 as^G5613 a scroll^G975 when it is rolled together;^G1507 and^G2532 every^G3956 mountain^G3735 and^G2532 island^G3520 were moved^G2795 out of^G1537 their^G848 places.^G5117

Rev 6:15  And^G2532 the^G3588 kings^G935 of the^G3588 earth,^G1093 and^G2532 the^G3588 great men,^G3175 and^G2532 the^G3588 rich men,^G4145 and^G2532 the^G3588 chief captains,^G5506 and^G2532 the^G3588 mighty men,^G1415 and^G2532 every^G3956 bondman,^G1401 and^G2532 every^G3956 free man,^G1658 hid^G2928 themselves^G1438 in^G1519 the^G3588 dens^G4693 and^G2532 in^G1519 the^G3588 rocks^G4073 of the^G3588 mountains;^G3735

Rev 6:16  And^G2532 said^G3004 to the^G3588 mountains^G3735 and^G2532 rocks,^G4073 Fall^G4098 on^G1909 us,^G2248 and^G2532 hide^G2928 us^G2248 from^G575 the face^G4383 of him that sitteth^G2521 on^G1909 the^G3588 throne,^G2362 and^G2532 from^G575 the^G3588 wrath^G3709 of the^G3588 Lamb:^G721

Rev 6:17  For^G3754 the^G3588 great^G3173 day^G2250 of his^G848 wrath^G3709 is come;^G2064 and^G2532 who^G5101 shall be able^G1410 to stand?^G2476

Rev 11:13  And^G2532 the same^G1565 hour^G5610 was^G1096 there a great^G3173 earthquake,^G4578and^G2532 the^G3588 tenth part^G1182 of the^G3588 city^G4172 fell,^G4098 and^G2532 in^G1722 the^G3588 earthquake^G4578 were slain^G615 of^(G3686) men^G444 seven^G2033 thousand:^G5505 and^G2532 the^G3588 remnant^G3062 were^G1096 affrighted,^G1719 and^G2532 gave^G1325 glory^G1391 to the^G3588 God^G2316 of heaven.^G3772

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     The following verses demonstrate a significant difference from previous verses quoted, as we see other events associated along with the "earthquake"; of voices thundering’s lightings and an earthquake as used in the Old Testament against Egypt and also at Mount Sinai and then in the book of Revelation.  The meaning I may be looking for is, perhaps, something more than just a gale, earthquake, or commotion could be found in these verses.  

 +

Rev 8:5  And^G2532 the^G3588 angel^G32 took^G2983 the^G3588 censer,^G3031 and^G2532 filled^G1072 it^G846 with^G1537 fire^G4442 of the^G3588 altar,^G2379 and^G2532 cast^G906 it into^G1519 the^G3588 earth:^G1093 and^G2532 there were^G1096 voices,^G5456 and^G2532 thunderings,^G1027 and^G2532 lightnings,^G796 and^G2532 an earthquake.^G4578

Rev 11:19  And^G2532 the^G3588 temple^G3485 of God^G2316 was opened^G455 in^G1722 heaven,^G3772 and^G2532 there was seen^G3700 in^G1722 his^G848 temple^G3485 the^G3588 ark^G2787 of his^G848 testament:^G1242 and^G2532 there were^G1096 lightnings,^G796 and^G2532 voices,^G5456 and^G2532 thunderings,^G1027 and^G2532 an earthquake,^G4578 and^G2532 great^G3173 hail.^G5464

My (brother Dan) comments in living color:

Rev 11:18-19  "The Wrath is come, and the nations are angry – the beginning:"

    There is a reading of this verse then there is a proper reading.  When checking another version you will see a colon used and a period in others.  The KJV uses a colon right after the statement “testament”:  (verse 19) indicating what follows is a continuation of thought or vision, separate from the previous statement.  In other words, the lighting, voices, thundering and earthquake and great hail are not in heaven but a continuation of the subject found in the previous verse (18).  What this would mean +.-- the visual demonstration recorded by John that the “ark of HIS TESTIMONY”  is true and about to be brought and enforced.  His “covenant”  is seen, meaning it is not finished.  No doubt, as you have pointed out, there could not be an “earthquake” in heaven.  The book of revelation does this quite often, interjecting observations, sometimes in whole chapters and other times single verses such as this one.  The proper dividing of the word is not always followed by the translators as they only see the words.  I suppose you could insist the word for “earthquake” should be, “commotion”  but we need to remember, what we are seeing in The Temple in Heaven there would not be this kind of confusion. 

     Here is a second look:  This is Rev chapter 11, the 7^th Trumpet has sounded, the Two Prophets have been killed and raised to YaHshua in the air.  We are the told the time has come for YaHshua to take over and that the nations are angry, the Temple is opened and the His Covenant is seen. Followed by many earthly signs.  The overall context of events is leading up to our Savior’s coming and this is giving us a look, in advance, of events to occur right after the Two witnesses are killed and out Savior raised the dead.  All earthly events.  I’m thinking the vision of the “…was see the HIS ark of the Covenant”.  The Covenant is about, at that time, to be returned to earth.   I am of the opinion the earthly events are not in heaven but occurring on this earth, actions against those that “destroy the earth” – looking up the word “destroy” and we see it means, “corrupt”, not just “ruin” or bring “destruction” to the earth. 

     I could be wrong?  

Rev 16:18  And^G2532 there were^G1096 voices,^G5456 and^G2532 thunders,^G1027 and^G2532 lightnings;^G796 and^G2532 there was^G1096 a great^G3173 earthquake,^G4578 such as^G3634 was^G1096 not^G3756 since^{G575 G3739} men^G444 were^G1096 upon^G1909 the^G3588 earth,^G1093 so mighty^G5082 an earthquake,^G4578 and so^G3779 great.^G3173

Rev 16:19  And^G2532 the^G3588 great^G3173 city^G4172 was divided^G1096 into^G1519 three^G5140 parts,^G3313 and^G2532 the^G3588 cities^G4172 of the^G3588 nations^G1484 fell:^G4098 and^G2532 great^G3173 Babylon^G897 came in remembrance^G3415 before^G1799 God,^G2316 to give^G1325 unto her^G846 the^G3588 cup^G4221 of the^G3588 wine^G3631 of the fierceness^G2372 of his^G848 wrath.^G3709

Rev 16:20  And^G2532 every^G3956 island^G3520 fled away,^G5343 and^G2532 the mountains^G3735 were not^G3756 found.^G2147

Rev 16:21  And^G2532 there fell^G2597 upon^G1909 men^G444 a great^G3173 hail^G5464 out of^G1537 heaven,^G3772 every stone about^G5613 the weight of a talent:^G5006 and^G2532 men^G444 blasphemed^G987 God^G2316 because of^G1537 the^G3588 plague^G4127 of the^G3588 hail;^G5464 for^G3754 the^G3588 plague^G4127 thereof^G848 was^G2076 exceeding^G4970 great.^G3173

 His Wrath – it is here:

    The Great City is divided physically divided and, “… so mighty and earthquake…”  as never before -- cities fall, mountains no more, Island gone and a great hail falls on men – His Wrath and the same wording is used as in Rev 11, where His wrath is coming and here in Rev 16 we see His Wrath in action.  Same wording, same subject at a different time with some details added.  It seems to me, when you have a choice in definitions from Strong’s the “earthquake” fits better than “gale” or “commotion”.

     Here in the old test these verses show the mountain quaked fire a voice of the trumpet and of thunder and in Ps77:18 the earth trembled an earthquake now look at Ex 19:16 it shows instead of an earthquake the people trembled the same as quake.

Exo 19:18  And mount^H2022 Sinai^H5514 was altogether^H3605 on a smoke,^H6225 because^{H4480 H6440 H834} the LORD^H3068 descended^H3381 upon^H5921 it in fire:^H784 and the smoke^H6227 thereof ascended^H5927 as the smoke^H6227 of a furnace,^H3536 and the whole^H3605 mount^H2022 quaked^H2729 greatly.^H3966

Exo 19:19  And when^H1961 the voice^H6963 of the trumpet^H7782 sounded long,^H1980 and waxed louder and louder,^{H2388 H3966} Moses^H4872 spake,^H1696 and God^H430 answered^H6030 him by a voice.^H6963

Psa 77:18  The voice^H6963 of thy thunder^H7482 was in the heaven:^H1534 the lightnings^H1300 lightened^H215 the world:^H8398 the earth^H776 trembled^H7264 and shook.^H7493

Isa 29:6  Thou shalt be visited^H6485 of^{H4480 H5973} the LORD^H3068 of hosts^H6635 with thunder,^H7482 and with earthquake,^H7494 and great^H1419 noise,^H6963 with storm^H5492 and tempest,^H5591 and the flame^H3851 of devouring^H398 fire.^H784

Exo 19:16  And it came to pass^H1961 on the third^H7992 day^H3117 in the morning,^H1242 that there were^H1961 thunders^H6963 and lightnings,^H1300 and a thick^H3515 cloud^H6051 upon^H5921 the mount,^H2022 and the voice^H6963 of the trumpet^H7782 exceeding^H3966 loud;^H2389 so that all^H3605 the people^H5971 that^H834 was in the camp^H4264 trembled.^H2729

      looking at the above verses where it does not have voices thunder lighting sometimes hail earthquake would be correct that would include the first great quake, but when the voices thunders lighting earthquake could be more not just of the ground but also of the people. look at the verse in Rev 6 the people are saying his wrath has come because of an earthquake and what follows and they are afraid but he hasn't come yet but in Rev 8 the angle cast the censer to the earth that’s when the voice thunder lightings and quaking really come into play perhaps the important thing isn't in the earthquake or gale but the tie in to his wrath of the V T L H Q Egypt went thru this in exodus use these very same terms perhaps because it already happened to them they are not singled out as some are in Rev.

More living color comments from me: 

His Wrath Is Come Rev 6:

I’m beginning to have second thoughts about seeing the two “earthquakes” mentioned, one in Rev 6 and the one in Rev 11 and the third one in Rev 16 as, perhaps, being one and the same.  The differences in the details may be just as three witnesses witnessing the same event from lightly different angles.  No, wait, the Rev 6 is missing a very important detail and the timing does not jib with that of Rev 11.  In 6 we see the “earthquake” then the people hide from His approach in Rev 11 He has arrived, the nations are not fearful, hiding, but angry, rebellious, and then we see the earthy commotions then in Rev 16, we are told of an earthquake that is the greatest of all time.  Ok, I am back on track, I lost it there for a moment.  These are three different events, all part of the Lamb’s Wrath and the Wrath of our Heavenly Father.  Whew, my head was swimming for a minute there.

Back to Part 3 of the Great Quake --