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Does scientific knowledge of the cause of earthquakes disprove Jesus' prophecy of the time of the end?

I often see answerers pointing to the fact that Earthquakes can be explained scientifically as if that somehow disproves Jesus' prophecy that there would be great earthquakes in one place after another during the time of the end.

How does knowing the cause disprove Jesus' prophecy?

Did Jesus ever say that the Earthquakes would be unexplainable or miraculous in origin?

How does knowing the cause of them disprove the fact that they're happening?

Public Comments

1. no...

2. It doesn't.

3. Those that love darkness grope for anything to support their cause.

4. Jesus said there would be earthquakes and there's earthquakes, what's there to disprove?

5. Earthquakes are the earth regenerating, not destroying. They are a sign of "long to continue" times

6. Anyone can observe a natural disaster and assume that it will happen again; this is not prophecy, this is common sense...

Natural disasters happen all the time, if they did not, we would call them unnatural disasters...

7. If God made the entire Universe, then there's no reason why He couldn't make earthquakes whenever He wanted.

8. wernt no Jesus so no

9. No, because Jesus is in charge of the cause/all the causes.

10. it doesn't disprove anything. the bible doesn't say HOW he fulfilling prophecy just that he will.

this may be how he chooses to do it.

11. Knowing how earthquakes occur in no way disproves the prophecy. It's loke comparing apples to oranges.

12. By "often see" do you mean once or twice?

Don't take isolated answers and extrapolate that everyone in that group thinks that way.

I personally have no idea what you are talking about.

13. Because earthquakes have been happening long before Jesus and will continue until the core has cooled off or the Earth is destroyed. Just because someone says there will be many great earthquakes in the future does not mean it's a prophecy.

14. no, and that is laughable!

15. It doesn't. I don't believe in god, but I'm not going to cosign with any dumb ideas. A christian can blow this theory out of the water by simply saying that god is the one who makes the earth ripe for an earthquake. Knowing the technical cause of them doesn't mean that god isn't behind it in someway. There is nothing wrong with being an atheist. Just don't pull stupid crap like this out of your azz just because it fits your agenda. Have some intellectual honesty my friend.

16. No.

Interesting that you should ask this question right after Vot had a discussion about it with someone last night. The issue was people saying "The "increase" in earthquakes is just because we have the equipment to record them better and the media to relay the information about them to others very quickly"

Now, the fact that we can do these things does not take away from the prophecy- for in fact Jesus said "You will hear reports..."

I know we usually use Matthew 24 as the scriptural source, but I like the corresponding account at Luke 21 for this bit (29-31):

"With that he spoke an illustration to them: “Note the fig tree and all the other trees: When they are already in the bud, by observing it you know for yourselves that now the summer is near. In this way you also, when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near."

Now, "summer" is not the cause of the the budding of trees- figs or not. The cause of the budding is the formation of hormones that convert plant sugars and the like that start the process of buds awakening from their dormant state, in part induced by increasing temperatures in spring. But when we see this happening, we know summer time is near.

Likewise, the "end of the world" is not the cause of the increase in great earthquakes- the *earthquakes* are part of the sign that the end is near.

17. No. The disasters in the Bible that are described are supposed to be worse than ever before. Christian or not, you're supposed to realize that there is something wrong. You might as well say that our scientific knowledge of global warming is somehow proving Jesus wrong about the prophesised increase in power of the sun.

I want to say that it was in the book of Isaiah where the earthquakes described were supposed to snap the trees of the land in half. This actually has happened before, but not over a large area nor all around the world.

18. I don't think propecies can or should be disproved. If someone claims a prophecy is true, it's up to them to prove that claim.

For a start, you'd have to prove that prescience is possible, in which case you'd have to accept that there is no free will.

19. It doesn't.

Many things in the book of Revelation will be man-made (natural disasters) because we live in a physical dimension. People can't see truth because they are closing they're eyes. Don't worry, I am quite sure that when the 'Earthquake' happens - You and I won't be here.

Keep God first.
Ted

20. No, but the fact that earthquakes are increasing in number proves what Jesus said is truth. It will get worse throughout this year and next, with the biggest earthquake ever known to man to be during the tribulation ( see Revelation 11:13 ). That will make the Haiti and Chile earthquakes look like a little rumble, even though they caused much destruction. I pray for God's peace to be upon the families of the victims of both quakes.

21. There were no geologists around at the time so the superstitious pagans thought that earthquakes were caused by angry gods. Even Jesus himself thought that mental illness was caused by demonic possession. There is nothing supernatural about prophesy.

22. Knowing what causes earthquakes can help predict where they occur. Unusual activity may help predict when earthquakes will occur. Knowing the cause of earthquakes does not conflict or negate Jesus' prophecy.

It's true that earthquakes have always occurred. However, during the past century earthquakes have caused greater devestation since you have more people living in earthquake prone zones and more buildings constructed in those areas. The greater devestation from earthquakes during the past century make these earthquakes... great earthquakes.

As Vot mentioned the earthquakes are part of a larger sign which is described in Matthew chapter 24 verses 3-7.

The fact that great earthquakes along with the wars, food shortages and also what is mentioned in verses 12-14 about increased lawlessness and also the global preaching work of God's kingdom as a whole make up the sign that the end of this system of things is near.

23. Plates moving etc..cause earthquakes, we all know this. The fact is however is Jesus said that in the last days we would be experiencing them on a much larger scale in different places around the globe. In the past 3 years we have had major earthquakes compared to the past 100 years. I live here in California where we have small earthquakes. But only in the past few years have we seen so many 6.0 and above around the globe that cause awful destruction and death.

Matt 24:3 While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?”
4 And in answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads YOU; 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 YOU are going to hear of wars and reports of wars; see that YOU are not terrified. For these things must take place, but the end is not yet.
7 “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.

24. Earthquakes are a natural phenomena.

However, the Bible in it's end-times predictions says there will be a whole whack of them. And, a bunch of other signs as well. So, a few earthquakes are nothing out of the ordinary. The latest ones have made the press, but in the overall scheme of things, they are not that out of the ordinary, if at all. But, when you get zillions of them, and all the other signs listed in Scripture, then I might start to worry. Until then, all is normal.

25. Prophecy says nothing regarding the cause behind the quakes to come.
It simply indicates that there would be a notably unusual amount of notable earthquakes that would not go unnoticed . . .

“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,
there will be earthquakes in one place after another, there will be food shortages.
These are a BEGINNING of pangs of distress." --Mark 13:8 (see also: Mt 24:7; Lu 21:10,11)


*Really* . . .
How much better is the technology of the past decade & 1/2, over that prior . . . ?

I ask because there *has* been a *vast & noticeable* increase in the frequency of notable earthquakes within the past century, and again in the past decade:

. . .total quakes || average per decade
2000-2009: 420 || 420.0 . . . . <* These occured in the 01st DECADE of 2000-2099
1900-1999: 423 || 042.3 . . . . <* These occured in the 20th Century
1800-1899: 061 || 006.1 . . . . <* These occured in the 19th Century
1700-1799: 014 || 001.4 . . . . <* These occured in the 18th Century
1600-1699: 009 || 000.9 . . . . <* These occured in the 17th Century
1500-1599: 002 || 000.2 . . . . <* These occured in the 16th Century
1400-1499: 000 || 000.0 . . . . <* These occured in the 15th Century
1300-1399: 000 || 000.0 . . . . <* These occured in the 14th Century
1200-1299: 002 || 000.2 . . . . <* These occured in the 13th Century
1100-1199: 001 || 000.1 . . . . <* These occured in the 12th Century
1000-1099: 000 || 000.0 . . . . <* These occured in the 11th Century
0900-0999: 000 || 000.0 . . . . <* These occured in the 10th Century
0800-0899: 002 || 000.2 . . . . <* These occured in the 09th Century
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical.php

"Are We Really Living in “the Last Days'?"
http://watchtower.org/e/20060915/article_02.h