Earthquakes and that 'sign'

by Aussie Oz 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Aussie Oz

  When i was a JW, my perception was that the end times would feature an increase of earthquakes. Whether the increase was officialy taught i do not know as i can find no reference specific in the CD Library. So correct me if I had it wrong! But who else here also thought like i did i wonder?

  But i am sure that this little piece would have been seized upon for a door to door presentation...

  Awake! 4/8 1981 Quakes on Increase?

  ♦ Earth may be in a period of growing earthquake and volcanic activity, according to Robert I. Tilling, chief of the U.S. Geological Survey’s office of Geochemistry and Geophysics. “There are some suggestions that both volcanoes and earthquakes worldwide are on the increase,” he told a scientific gathering. Tilling said that this could reflect a basic change in movements of the giant rock plates that form earth’s crust.

  Reading the public edition of the WT for May 2011 where the WT dismisses the concept of 'increasing' for 'great', (see below) got me to start that search in the Library.

  WHAT IS A COMMON OBJECTION? We are not experiencing

  more earthquakes; because of modern technology, we

  are just more aware of them than people were in the past.

  IS THAT OBJECTION VALID? Consider this fact: The Bible

  does not emphasize the number of earthquakes during the

  last days. However, it does say that “great earthquakes” will

  occur “in one place after another,” making them one of the

  notable features of this momentous period of history.

  I came across this is the 12/1 1993 WT

  That being the case, can we hold God responsible for the increased havoc and devastation that have resulted from natural disasters in recent times? To answer this question, we must first consider whether there is evidence that the forces of nature have recently become dramatically more violent, perhaps even out of control.

  In this regard, note what the book NaturalDisasters—ActsofGodorActsofMan? has to say: “There is no evidence that the climatological mechanisms associated with droughts, floods and cyclones are changing. And no geologist is claiming that the earth movements associated with earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunami (earthquake waves) are becoming more violent.” Similarly, the book Earthshock observes: “The rocks of every continent contain a record of innumerable major and minor geological events, every one of which would be a catastrophic disaster to mankind if they occurred today—and it is scientifically certain that such events will occur again and again in the future.” In other words, the earth and its dynamic forces have more or less remained the same throughout the ages. Hence, whether or not some statistics indicate an increase of some forms of geologic or other activity, the earth has not become uncontrollably violent in recent times.

  This is in support of the point they are making.

  It causes me to wonder then, if the WT in 1993 is saying the earthquakes we experience are not on the increase and they are not getting more or less violent than in any other age, then how can earthquakes even be considered part of the sign in the first place? I mean, Jesus might have well said babies would be born as part of this sign...

  And if they said that in 1993, how can they change it to "great earthqukes" marking our time as notable in 2011? New light?

  oz
• 

  wobble

  The rank and file always think earthquakes are part of the sign, they are not, Jesus was saying wars, earthquakes etc will happen, as they always do, but the "end is not yet", the sign comes later in Matt 24.
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  Aussie Oz

  So did the WT create a great red herring?

  oz
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  wobble

  As usual, they did not read the scriptures with any basic reading and comprehension skills employed. For many years they have quoted the bit about wars and earthquakes as though it was part of the sign, the R&F did not pick it up by accident.

  But they manage to create a milieu where any world event is picked on to support the fact that the "end" is so close. my super-Dub older sister mentioned about "the agitation of the sea" (from Magic-mushroom John's Revelation) in regard to the uprisings in the middle -east , they will grab hold of anything, and are encouraged by the ramblings of the WT to think that way.

  So, yes, the WT constantly creates red-herrings, and raises false hopes that soon their psychopathic god will murder 7 billion.
• 

  Listener

  When you look back at the previous article of 12/1/93 Natural Disastors - A sign of the times they indicate that there has been an increase in the number of earthquakes and use several sources to support this. They present the argument that it isn't just because reporting and recording has improved.

  The article of 12/1/93 that you quote says that earthquakes have not been more violent in recent times.

  My memory of talks and articles always stated that earthquakes had increased and it was a sign that we were living in the times of the end.

  As far as I am aware that article of May 2011 that you quote does show a new thinking on this, as you say, they talk about earthquakes being greater. Thanks for pointing it out as once again they seem to have presented new light. This would probably be because they have carried out better research on the matter and considered scientific evidence with less bias. They have realized that they can no longer claim that earthquakes have been on the increase in this past 100 years with any credibility.
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  Mad Sweeney

  Here is how it works on a practical level:

  When there is a recent major earthquake in the news, earthquakes are a major part of the sign.

  When it has been some time since a major earthquake caused any damage or loss of life, the size and number of earthquakes aren't really important.

  Does the Watchtower try to play all sides of the issue? Absolutely.
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  rebel8

  Graph: Severity and frequency of worldwide earthquakes with 1,000 or more deaths since the year 1900 with forecast based upon trend

  download: FREE

  Jehovah's Witnesses believe earthquakes have become more frequent and severe in recent years, and this is a sign of Armageddon approaching. Here is a graph of data collected by the US Geological Survey regarding the frequency and severity of worldwide earthquakes since 1900, with a mathematical forecast to 2050.