Yeru
Long time since we've exchanged blows. ;-)
If siesmos does NOT refer to earthquakes, what greek word IS commonly used for earthquakes?
Of course there is a word in Greek for “earth” (the Greek characters resembling our yn), and occurrences in which the earth ITSELF was the object affected by a seismos (shaking), it was even so specified. A case in point is Matthew 27:51, which according to the Revised Standard Version says: "...and the earth (yn) shook (seismos), and the rocks were split." Clearly, that which "shook" was indeed the earth. So, if Jesus had earthquakes in mind at Matthew 24:7 then why didn’t he make use of the Greek word for earth, using it in conjunction with the word that translates as “shaking”?
This, along with much more that I could say, makes it evident that the Greek word seismos, used by Jesus in Matthew 24:7, does not in itself mean “earthquakes”, nor does the context offer the slightest clue to lead us to such conclusion. So, Jesus did not include and foretell earthquakes as a feature of “the sign”. What he did say was: “…and there will be … shakings (seismos) in one place after another.” Therefore, “shakings” were to be among those events which, upon being observed, would alert and inform those anxiously awaiting Jesus’ return that such was close at hand, and that their “deliverance [was] getting near.” -- Luke 21:28; NWT.
Finally, since seismos simply means shakings, the question becomes: What is it that is due to shake? Of course, the clue is in the context itself. Had not Jesus’ discussion (starting with verse 7 of the 24th chapter of Matthew) revolved around such things as are common to man’s system and its governments. Certainly, nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom, food shortages, and pestilences (Luke’s} are all things linked with man’s system of self-rule. A parallel account to these prophecies of Jesus, recorded in the 6th chapter of Revelation in symbolic terms, verifies that these unprecedented problems would be the fate of man’s system just prior to Jesus’ return. As expected, in scrutinizing Revelation 6 the subject of earthquakes can’t be found -- only in verse 12 where in such instance the word seismos occurs, but which has been mistranslated “earthquake”. J. A. Seiss’ Revised Text became one exception to the rule by rendering seismos there as it properly should be rendered, namely “shaking”.
And so, it becomes quite apparent that what is to experience “shakings in one place after another” is none other than man’s system of self-government. Too, understanding what the “death-stroke” truly signifies -- due to come upon the 10-horned 7th head of the 7-headed beast of Revelation 13 -- nails man’s system as being the object of the “shakings” of which Jesus spoke. With the help of such enlightenment it becomes crystal clear that the seismos Jesus had in mind are those which man’s system is to suffer as a consequence of the concentrated influence of Satan (then earth-confined, Re 12:9, 12) upon earth’s inhabitants as he frantically uses every tool at his disposal, particularly the nations, in an attempt to thwart God’s advancing purpose for restoring his own rightful rule over the earth, which, since Adam’s rebellion, had been “delivered” (Luke 4:6) into Satan’s hands.
Yes, Yeru, the foundation of man’s worldwide system of self-rule is in for a “shaking -- even to the point of collapse* -- such being that which is pictured by the “death” of the beast of Revelation 13. I know that the principles I’ve alluded to here, Yeru, conflict with your idea that God approves of political involvement … but that’s just too bad for you is all I can say. You should get some eye salve.
*Such collapse, however, does not mean the immediate end of man’s system, since the “death-stroke got healed”. -- Revelation 13:3, 12, 14.
Friday