In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus foretold that earthquakes “in one place after another” would be part of the sign of the last days clímaxing in the great tribulation.
Luke 17:20 - Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation”.
observation – “inspection, ocular evidence”.
If we take these words as the truth that they are, then Jesus is not talking about literal earthquakes or wars among nations to be observed, or to keep our eyes on. There are two sets of signs, one that Jesus is speaking about, and one that creates a diversion tactic, a deterrent from the real “war” and real “earthquakes” that affect an individual. Real, meaning the spiritual, not the physical. 1 Cor 2:14 “The whole world lies in the power of the wicked one” 1 John 5:19. Although the earth is bound to have earthquakes anyway, Satan can also create his own set of signs that requires observation. The Wt. has set up a kingdom, that can be observed and revered. But Jesus said right after Luke 17:20 - “ nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” That’s not something that can be observed, but only felt. We see Satan’s power at work in the book of Job. He can also convince people to look for those physical signs, through the mouths of his “ministers” – false teachers/prophets. 2 Cor 11:13-15
In Luke 21, the very first thing that Jesus tells us is that false teachers/ prophets will arise saying “the time is at hand”, and they will appear to represent Christ. He says, don’t go after them (Luke 21:8); but guess what, those who became JWs, certainly did go after them; especially the “elect”/saints/anointed priests-kings, which was prophesied to happen. Matt 7:15; 24:24,25; Luke 22:31; 1 Tim 4:1; Col 2:8; Rev 13:10
He then mentions wars, famine, earthquakes. But he says, “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.“ Luke 21:12-13
For the sake of Jesus Christ, not for being a JW. John 16:2,3
So, we’re back to the presence of false prophets (because it mentions religious synagogues/”congregations”), and what they do to those who reject their teachings. If, in the organization we stand up for the words of Christ over the words of the GB, what happens? We are “brought before” the ruling elders under the authority of anointed “kings” (Rev 5:9,10), “governors”. Luke 21:12-13; Matt 10:18; Luke 22:24-26 We give our testimony to Christ’s teachings, we expose the lies in the same manner that Jesus did.
And, what comes next does happen as a result:
“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.” Luke 21:16-17
If the signs are spiritual, then this “death” in this day, is through disfellowshipping. (Rev 13:11,12,15)
17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”
Those “apostates” who leave the lies and reject the organization as belonging to God, are certainly hated. If we use the words of Jesus, the scriptures, to refute the lies when before a judicial committee, the hammer comes down. (John 16:2; Rev 13:10,15)
So what kind of earthquakes is Jesus talking about? The tremors and upheaval in the “soil”/earth of our heart when we find out we were serving the lie. Our heart undergoes change. Heb 12:27 And “earthquakes” that come from God, a shaking of His people. Matt 13:18-23; Hos 10:12; Isa 7:2; Isa 52:2; Amos 9:9; Jer 31:33
And the wars? Jesus faced a war in his day against the Pharisees, a war of his truth against their lies. Luke 20:20; Mark 3:1,2; John 8:13-14,23-24,39-47
It was a decision-making war for all who heard his message. Joel 3:14 Don’t we also see this today? There is the term coined, “the Vast Apostate Army”, dedicated to bring down the Wt. About the apostates, D. Splain himself said, "Brothers and Sisters, this is war”.
The two “Beasts” that “kill” any who refuse to worship it, (Rev 13:5,8), “make war with the saints”. (Rev 13:7)
And there, is the war that Jesus was talking about that happens to the anointed in the last days. Sure, the world is physically suffering from wars, but as Paul said, our war is spiritual, not carnal. There are anointed ones very active outside the organization, using God’s Word to tear down the GB’s lies. 1 Cor 11:19; 2 Cor 10:3-6 Those that remain inside the organization, believe in watching and counting the earthquakes and wars that they can observe, expecting the Kingdom to arrive any minute, but they are totally blind to the trap that they believe is their salvation. Amos 5:18
Oh, and
famine - “Behold, the days are coming,”
says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos 8:11
So, am I putting to much emphasis on the Watchtower? There are a remnant of genuine anointed who are the target of deception. They belong to Christ, they are his kings of the earth/priests. (Rev 1:5,6; 1 Pet 2:5,9) Just as Satan was trying to deceive and destroy Christ, he is also wanting to destroy the members of Christ’s body…using deceit through the mouths of false prophets/teachers.
“I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.
15 “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn’t walk naked, and they see his shame.”
16 He (the dragon) gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, “Megiddo”.
Armageddon
Luke 22:31-32