I looked at earthquakes some time ago, and found the most intense activity was around the end of the 1700's (if my memory serves me) I also found a number of leading clergymen of the time, linking this earthquake activity in with the loose morals (as they saw it) oft the time, they felt certain they were in the time of the end !
Nothing changes in the world of those who imagine they are so special that words put into the mouth of "Jesus" by writers of Gospels with an agenda, apply in their day.
As to the thread title, we see this attitude with JW's and other Bible literalists all the time, they have no other choice but to ignore the plain proven facts, if they don't they are faced with, at the minimum, accepting the Bible as 99% allegorical, and maybe going as far as saying SHOCK HORROR ! perhaps it is not the word of god at all.