EARTHQUAKES & THE END TIMES - According to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are signs like labor pains – He cited a number of signs to look for. Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present. He wasn't saying their appearance alone will signal His return. Instead, He said to look for them in a distinct pattern. He said they would arrive like "birth pains." Birth pains, or labor contractions, are sharp pains. They increase in both frequency and intensity right before birth. The signs Jesus mentioned will appear with greater frequency and intensity right before His return. The other signs Jesus said to look for are also increasing in frequency and intensity - the appearance of famines, wars, and false messiahs. These things are happening. The signs are clear. Jesus is coming! When Jesus was asked what would signal His return and the end of the age, He said to look for a number of signs. One of those signs was the appearance of earthquakes. But what does that mean? After all, earthquakes have been a part of human life since Adam and Eve. They aren't rare. Earthquakes have been a part of life since the beginning of human civilization. So, if we've always had earthquakes, how can they possibly be a sign of the Second Coming? That's a great question. Fortunately, Jesus gave us the answer. Earthquakes in general are NOT a sign of His return. But according to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are... signs like labor pains - Jesus cited a number of signs to look for. Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present.

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Earthquakes & The End Times

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According to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are signs like labor pains – He cited a number of signs to look for. Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present. He wasn't saying their appearance alone will signal His return. Instead, He said to look for them in a distinct pattern. He said they would arrive like "birth pains." Birth pains, or labor contractions, are sharp pains. They increase in both frequency and intensity right before birth. The signs Jesus mentioned will appear with greater frequency and intensity right before His return. The other signs Jesus said to look for are also increasing in frequency and intensity - the appearance of famines, wars, and false messiahs. These things are happening. The signs are clear. Jesus is coming!

BY BRITT GILLETTE

ENDTIMESBIBLEPROPHECY

 

When Jesus was asked what would signal His return and the end of the age, He said to look for a number of signs.

One of those signs was the appearance of earthquakes (Matthew 24:7).

But what does that mean?

After all, earthquakes have been a part of human life since Adam and Eve. They aren't rare.

The Bible says they appeared in the days of Amos (Amos 1:1) and King Saul (1 Samuel 14:15).

They appeared in the days of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:26).

And non-biblical history tells us earthquakes shook ancient China, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, and other nations.

In 1906, a devastating earthquake hit San Francisco. It toppled almost every building in the city and killed over 3,000 people.

In short, earthquakes have been a part of life since the beginning of human civilization.

So, if we've always had earthquakes, how can they possibly be a sign of the Second Coming?

That's a great question.

Fortunately, Jesus gave us the answer.

Earthquakes in general are NOT a sign of His return.

But according to Jesus, earthquakes occurring in a certain pattern are...

Signs Like Labor Pains

Jesus cited a number of signs to look for.

Among them are the appearance of earthquakes, famines, wars, and false messiahs. Jesus knew these signs had always been present.

So, He wasn't saying their appearance alone will signal His return. Instead, He said to look for them in a distinct pattern.

He said they would arrive like "birth pains."

But what does this mean? What could these general signs possibly have in common with birth pains?

Only this - birth pains, or labor contractions, are sharp pains.

They increase in both frequency and intensity right before birth.

In other words, the signs Jesus mentioned will appear with greater frequency and intensity right before His return.

Looking for the Pattern

This means earthquakes (or even what seems to be a numerical increase in the number of earthquakes) are NOT a sign of the Second Coming.

Instead, Jesus said to look for an increase in the frequency of large earthquakes.

Such an increase will fit the pattern Jesus described - a pattern of more frequent intense events rising toward a climax.

So how do we measure an increase in the frequency and intensity of earthquakes?

We don't have accurate data going back to the beginning of time. We don't even have accurate data going back to the time of Jesus.

After all, advanced instruments for detecting and measuring earthquakes are relatively new.

The Richter Scale didn't even exist until 1935, and most seismographs at the time failed to detect any earthquakes under a magnitude of about 3.0.

But today?

Today's devices routinely measure earthquakes with negative magnitudes. Because of this, looking only at the frequency of earthquakes is meaningless.

Obviously, with better instruments, we can detect smaller earthquakes. But that doesn't mean more earthquakes are occurring. It just means for the first time we're able to measure them.

But let's take a different point of view. What if we look only at modern data from the last one hundred years? And what if we look only at earthquakes registering a magnitude of 8.0 or greater? This will give us a much more accurate picture.

Why? Because most instrumentation from that time period could detect an earthquake of such enormity.

This eliminates all the small quakes detected in more recent times.

And even though the sample size is still small (only about 120 years), it should give us enough data to spot a recent trend.

If these are the times Jesus told us to look for, we should expect to see an increase in the frequency (number) and intensity (magnitude) of earthquakes.

Is this what we see today? Yes. It is.

The Increasing Frequency of High Intensity Earthquakes

According to the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) composite catalog, recent years have seen a marked increase in the number of earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.0 or greater:

1900's - 3 earthquakes

1910's - 0 earthquakes

1920's - 1 earthquake

1930's - 1 earthquake

1940's - 1 earthquake

1950's - 1 earthquake

1960's - 3 earthquakes

1970's - 2 earthquakes

1980's - 3 earthquakes

1990's - 7 earthquakes

2000's - 13 earthquakes

2010's - 8 earthquakes so far

The 20th Century witnessed 22 earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.0 or greater, but already the 21st Century has seen 21 such earthquakes.

If that pace continues, we'll see 116 earthquakes of 8.0 magnitude or greater by the end of this century!

In 2014, I cited this same data in my book Signs of the Second Coming.

While writing the book, my original draft showed six earthquakes for this decade. I had to revise the book before publication because of another 8.0 earthquake in April 2014.

After the book was published, another earthquake struck in September 2015. And during that same time, we've had three other earthquakes later revised to 7.9.

Is it possible this is just a coincidence? Sure. We've only had the tools to measure earthquakes for a small portion of human history.

It's possible we're looking at a small sample size and drawing an incorrect conclusion.

Perhaps these earthquake patterns have appeared before.

Some might argue we've only recently had the instrumentation to measure all 8.0 magnitude earthquakes - that such technology didn't exist in the early 20th Century.

I find that hard to believe. But even if that's true, we've nevertheless seen a notable increase since that time.

Jesus Is Coming

Absent any other signs, the rise in earthquakes would be nothing more than a footnote of history.

But earthquakes aren't the only signs. They aren't the only events increasing in frequency and intensity.

The other signs Jesus said to look for are also increasing in frequency and intensity - the appearance of famines, wars, and false messiahs.

And even those aren't the only signs.

Travel and knowledge have increased significantly (Daniel 12:4)...

Israel is a nation again (Jeremiah 23:7-8)...

The Jewish people control Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)...

The Gog of Magog alliance is forming (Ezekiel 38-39)...

The Gospel is being preached to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14)...

Sin is everywhere, and the love of many has grown cold (Matthew 24:12)...

These are all signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for. And our generation is the first ever to witness these signs.

Still think this is mere coincidence? I don't either.

Jesus Himself said, "When all these things begin to happen, look up for your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28).

These things are happening.

And Jesus said the generation witnessing them will not pass away before He returns (Matthew 24:34).

The signs are clear. Jesus is coming!

So, don't waste any opportunity to share the Good News.

Britt Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as well as the books Signs of the Second Coming and Racing Toward Armageddon.

http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=2091

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SIGNS FROM HEAVEN - There have been more earthquakes worldwide in the last fifteen years than in the other eight decades of the last century. New and powerful strains of bacteria emerge to mock the efforts of doctors to fight them. The people who fear the turbulent events of these times are those who do not understand what is happening -- but you do! These events remind us of our blessed hope -- Jesus will come soon to take His Church to heaven. - “Great earthquakes will occur in various places, and there will be famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” - Worldwide famine in these days when there should be none tells us that Jesus is coming. The major wheat producers grow enough food to feed every starving person in the world, yet famine abounds. There have been more earthquakes worldwide in the last fifteen years than in the other eight decades of the last century. New and powerful strains of bacteria emerge to mock the efforts of doctors to fight them. Jesus warned us that in these times men's hearts would fail them for fear but He was not talking about you. The people who fear the turbulent events of these times are those who do not understand what is happening -- but you do! Every newscast that tells us of these events is a reminder to us of our blessed hope -- Jesus will come soon to take His Church to heaven.

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Signs from Heaven

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There have been more earthquakes worldwide in the last fifteen years than in the other eight decades of the last century. New and powerful strains of bacteria emerge to mock the efforts of doctors to fight them. The people who fear the turbulent events of these times are those who do not understand what is happening -- but you do! These events remind us of our blessed hope -- Jesus will come soon to take His Church to heaven.

Rod Parsley

 

“Great earthquakes will occur in various places, and there will be famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” - Luke 21:11

 

Worldwide famine in these days when there should be none tells us that Jesus is coming.

The major wheat producers grow enough food to feed every starving person in the world, yet famine abounds.

There have been more earthquakes worldwide in the last fifteen years than in the other eight decades of the last century.

New and powerful strains of bacteria emerge to mock the efforts of doctors to fight them.

Jesus warned us that in these times men's hearts would fail them for fear (Luke 21:26), but He was not talking about you.

The people who fear the turbulent events of these times are those who do not understand what is happening -- but you do!

Every newscast that tells us of these events is a reminder to us of our blessed hope -- Jesus will come soon to take His Church to heaven.

Are you ready for His return?

Is your family ready?

Do you have a neighbor, friend, or work associate that you need to tell today about Jesus?

How tragic it would be if you looked over the abyss of hell at the final judgment and recognized a face of someone you knew on the other side -- spending hell in eternity.

Don't let that happen.

Tell someone you know today about Jesus!

Lord Jesus, give me the courage and the words to witness Your saving power this day. Amen.

Further Reading

Luke 21:11

Luke 21:26

Psalm 66:16

 

Rod Parsley has been clearly called to a pre-eminent position of leadership within the Body of Christ, as his numerous roles – including TV host, evangelist, educator, humanitarian and statesman – will attest. But he’d be the first to tell you that his prominence is solely a function of his willingness to be used by God in extraordinary ways.

He was 19 when he first led a Bible study in his parents’ backyard. In more than 40 years since then, he’s built one of the most important and far-reaching Christian ministries in the United States. He has founded and now leads outreaches with local, national and worldwide reaches.

This New York Times best-selling author has successfully advocated for federal legislation, delivered hundreds of millions of pounds of food and medical supplies to poverty-stricken areas of the world and changed the lives of thousands who will shape the cultural landscape in the next generation. He’s in constant demand to preach the Gospel in pulpits across America and around the world, and to comment publicly on the moral issues of our day. If none of those opportunities had ever presented themselves, though, he’d still be Pastor Parsley, sharing God’s Word with his beloved World Harvest Church, helping his congregation know God as he does.

His other ministries include Valor Christian College; Harvest Preparatory School, an educational institution for local students from preschool through 12th grade; Hispanic and urban-outreach ministries; a national ministerial alliance; Bridge of Hope, a world-wide missions organization.

Through Bridge of Hope, he hosts the television shows “Breakthrough” and “Rod Parsley Now” which air on the Word Network, Daystar and 1,400 other local channels and cable outlets worldwide.

https://www.rodparsley.com/dailydevotion

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THE END OF THE AGE - The disciples were asking about the time when Jesus would return to end humanity’s age of destruction and begin the rule of the Kingdom of God over the earth. The signs Jesus gave include religious deception, wars and rumors of wars, famines, disease epidemics and much more. To be truly ready for Christ’s return, we must be sure we are living as He lived and doing what is pleasing to Him - Jesus’ disciples asked Him for signs of “the end of the world.” Jesus didn’t give a date, but He did give prophetic signs we should watch to be ready. There are many ideas about when the world will end, and even about what the end of the world and the end times mean. For many, it’s a joke. But it’s not just kooks and religious people talking about the end of the world. Scientists and politicians throw around the phrase as well. The prestigious Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists annually updates its Doomsday Clock. Human survival and the world as we know it are truly under threat. Many passionate and even desperate people are warning and trying to reverse whichever of the dangers to our existence seems most real to them. But there is little agreement and precious little action. The dangers grow worse, and most people do their best to put them out of their minds. But is there a source that can give definitive answers about what is going to happen and when? Is there a real solution to prevent human extinction?

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The End Of The Age

When Will the World End?

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The disciples were asking about the time when Jesus would return to end humanity’s age of destruction and begin the rule of the Kingdom of God over the earth. The signs Jesus gave include religious deception, wars and rumors of wars, famines, disease epidemics and much more. To be truly ready for Christ’s return, we must be sure we are living as He lived and doing what is pleasing to Him

by Mike Bennett

Jesus’ disciples asked Him for signs of “the end of the world.”

Jesus didn’t give a date, but He did give prophetic signs we should watch to be ready. Is the end of the world near now?

When Will the World End?

There are many ideas about when the world will end, and even about what the end of the world and the end times mean.

For many, it’s a joke. Cartoonists draw a strange man wearing a sandwich board sign proclaiming “The End Is Nigh” to the unheeding crowds on a big city street.

But it’s not just kooks and religious people talking about the end of the world.

Scientists and politicians throw around the phrase as well.

Headlines discuss “Here’s How Stephen Hawking Predicted the World Will End” and “How Will the World End? Experts Reveal Nine Most Likely Ways Humans Will Be Wiped Out.”

The prestigious Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists annually updates its Doomsday Clock.

As I write, it is set at 2 minutes till midnight, the closest it has ever been throughout the atomic age.

Existential threats and the end of the world

Human survival and the world as we know it are truly under threat.

Many passionate and even desperate people are warning and trying to reverse whichever of the dangers to our existence seems most real to them.

But there is little agreement and precious little action. The dangers grow worse, and most people do their best to put them out of their minds.

But is there a source that can give definitive answers about what is going to happen and when? Is there a real solution to prevent human extinction?

Why not consider the source that most likely gave us the term end of the world and see what it says?

Where the term end of the world came from

Before there was a scientific or political interest in the end of the world, there was a religious one, based on the wording of the most influential English translation of the Bible.

The venerable King James Version of 1611 uses the expression end of the world seven times.

Four of these are in the book of Matthew, referring to the prophetic end times.

(In Psalm 19:4 and Isaiah 62:11, “end of the world” instead has the connotation “to all parts of the world.”)

In the Bible, what does “end of the world” mean? And when did Jesus say it would come?

The disciples asked Jesus about the end of the world

Jesus had warned His disciples that the most magnificent structure of their nation and religion was going to be totally destroyed (Matthew 24:2).

They were understandably concerned and wanted to know when this would take place.

They connected His prediction of the destruction of the temple with other predictions that He would come again at the end time. So, they approached Him.

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (verse 3, King James Version unless otherwise noted).

End of the world means end of the age

If you check other, more modern translations, including the New King James Version, you will see that most of them translate the last phrase as “end of the age.”

The Greek word used here is aion, which here means an age — specifically, the time of man’s misrule that will end when Jesus Christ returns.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says this about aion: “‘An age, a period of time,’ marked in the NT usage by spiritual or moral characteristics, is sometimes translated ‘world;’ the RV marg. always has ‘age.’ … The phrase ‘the end of the world’ should be rendered ‘the end of the age,’ in most places.”

The disciples were asking about the time when Jesus would return to end humanity’s age of destruction and begin the rule of the Kingdom of God over the earth.

What are the signs of the end of the world?

In Matthew 24 Jesus gave many signs that would lead up to His return, including His promise that the good news about God’s Kingdom would be shared around this world — a world steeped in bad news.

Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (verse 14).

The good news is that, though Jesus will come back during a time of unparalleled “great tribulation” when humanity is at the brink of self-annihilation, He will return and save humanity (verses 21-22).

The signs Jesus gave include religious deception, wars and rumors of wars, famines, disease epidemics and much more.

We can examine all of Jesus’ prophetic signs and know we are very close to the end, but Jesus said we won’t know the day or the hour (verse 36).

What does Jesus want us to do until the end of the world?

So, what did Jesus tell us to do? At the end of Luke’s account of the same Olivet Prophecy, Jesus warned:

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man [Jesus Christ]” (Luke 21:34-36, NKJV).

Jesus compared the end times with the days of Noah, when most people ignored Noah’s warnings and were completely unprepared for the Flood.

Parable of the tares and the end of the world

The King James Version also quotes Jesus using the phrase end of the world twice and end of this world once in His parable of the wheat and the tares (weeds).

This parable was about how God sows His truth in this world and prepares people for His Kingdom, while Satan sows lies that produce people who pretend to follow God but follow Satan instead.

“The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels” (Matthew 13:39; see also 40 and 49).

To be truly ready for Christ’s return, we must be sure we are living as He lived and doing what is pleasing to Him.

This can also serve as a sober warning to Christians to not fool themselves into thinking they are okay just because they attend church or consider themselves Christians. Satan is the master of deception.

Here again, in this parable of the tares, “world” is translated “age” in the New King James Version and other modern versions.

From other passages that give more specifics about God’s times of judgment, it seems these passages are talking about judgment that will occur sometime after Jesus’ return.

Jesus Christ’s words of reassurance about the end of the world

In what has come to be known as the great commission, Jesus gave His followers a job to do before His return, and He gave us encouragement as well.

Jesus said to go and teach all nations, baptizing them and “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

This mission trains His Church to do His work and to learn to care for the people He is calling now.

Jesus promised to be with us in this effort to the end. He will never abandon us. His help—and His Kingdom — are sure.

World without end?

It is interesting to consider that, even though the King James Version talks about the end of the world, it also talks about “world without end”:

“But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end” (Isaiah 45:17).

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).

In both passages, the New King James Version translates “world without end” as “forever and ever.”

God’s plan is not just about an end. The end of this evil age will actually mark the beginning of something much better.

The Kingdom of God is a joyous, peaceful and ever-increasing kingdom that will have no end.

You need to understand and prepare for this wonderful world of the future.

Are the events in Revelation going to happen in the future? How can we know?

Mike Bennett is editorial content manager for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in the Dallas, Texas, area. He coordinates the Life, Hope & Truth website, Discern magazine and the Life, Hope & Truth Weekly Newsletter. He is also part of the Personal Correspondence team of ministers who answer questions sent to Life, Hope & Truth.

https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/end-times/when-will-the-world-end/