I don't believe that predictive prophecies about disasters in the world, especially in California fit in with Paul's teaching on New Testament prophecy. Actually, many scientists can predict earthquakes in California. It is not a matter of if but when for that region.
But I am so opposed to predictive prophecies like the example you quoted, that if Jesus Himself came and stood before me and told me that there was going to be an earthquake in California tomorrow, I would still ask Him for His I.D., and to show me in the New Testament where a prophecy like that is supported in its teaching.
Yes, there is a lot of controversy about predictive prophecy. Nevertheless, predictive prophecy is scriptural, in both the Old and New Testaments. Many of Israel's prophets, for example Jeremiah, predicted Israel's demise because of sin and disobedience. They were spat upon, persecuted, and, in Jeremiah's case, thrown into a pit. But they were also proved right.
In the book of Acts, Agabus the prophet predicted a famine, some scholars believe about two years ahead of the famine in 46 BC. Again, he was right.
Paul was told that if he went to Rome, he would be chained. Again, that prophecy was correct.
God still speaks predictive words today. Most of what I've heard personally has been for intercession. JUST BECAUSE GOD GIVES A PROPHECY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. Positive prophecies never come to pass if their conditions are not met. Similarly, negative prophecies will not happen if they are met with repentance. Recall Ninevah. How many days did Jonah say they had, 40? Yet they repented, and look what happened. Jonah 3:4-10 "Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way;
and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."
God CAN change His mind.
In intercession, when God has shown me something that will happen at some future time, it has ALWAYS been so that I will pray.
For example, I had a vision of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the White House being decimated in about 1998. To tell you the truth, I had no idea what to do with that vision. What do you do? Go proclaim it from the house tops? Instead, I prayed. I labored in the Spirit, often with tears, praying for God's mercy on my country, and praying that He would somehow mitigate what Satan had planned, and what also Satan had a legal right to do. I know that it still came to pass, but I believe that there were other peope praying, too, and I believe that these horrible, ungodly acts were greatly reduced.
I saw Katrina one year ahead of that disaster. I was not alone. Many intercessors saw it and were praying. How much my heart has ached as I see New Orleans go back to its reprobate life style. How is it that they cannot learn? Those who sow unrighteousness allow Satan dominion in their lives, and this is true not just for individuals but also cities. Gal. 6:7; Proverbs 11:11; Ps. 94:20.
In short, God still gives predictive prophecy to those who will listen.
I don't think, though, that predictive prophecy is the topic of this thread. This thread is for practicing personal prophecy, I think. Every born-again believer can prophesy. You need to understand. Jesus lives in each of us, and His sheep hear His voice, John 10:3, 16, 27.
