Jesus prophesied that “the conclusion of the system of things” would be marked by “earthquakes in one place after another,” and, according to Luke’s account, “great earthquakes.” (Matthew 24:3, 7; Luke 21:11) Has the generation that was living in 1914, and of which there are still many survivors, witnessed these things? The facts answer, Yes! (See Chart II.) And earthquakes are still being witnessed not only by remaining ones of that generation but by the largest number of people in history. (Matthew 24:34) Mankind today is also more aware of the global activity of earthquakes and their effects than were people in any past century.

What is it that would make an earthquake “great”? Its intensity, or magnitude, as measured by the Mercalli or Richter scale? Or, rather, would it not be its notoriety and the amount of destruction it caused? As the accompanying Chart III indicates, loss of human life due to earthquakes has mushroomed since 1914. And some of them with the greatest magnitude have been deep within oceans, known only to a few, with little if any effect on human property or life. In determining the modern fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, we should focus not merely on the magnitude of quakes according to the Richter or other such scale but on the extent of resultant property damage and loss of human life.

Clearly Part of “the Sign”

Europe magazine of July–August 1980 states: “In this century, earthquakes have cost the lives of some 1,600,000 people, with 120,000 dead in Europe alone.” So when we view the world scene and compare it with Jesus’ words we can agree that “earthquakes in one place after another” and even “great earthquakes” have been taking place. Has any single generation of the past experienced such grim destruction by earthquakes as that afflicting mankind since 1914? Statistics indicate none.

[Chart on page 6]

Chart I

Some Earthquakes Between 33-70 C.E.

YEAR LOCATION

33 Jerusalem

33 Jerusalem

c. 46 Crete

c. 50 Philippi

51 Rome

53 Apam æa

60 Laodicea

63 Pompeii

c. 67 Jerusalem

[Chart on page 7]

Chart II

Some Major Earthquakes Between 1914 and 1982

(Incomplete list)

YEAR LOCATION DEATHS

1915 Avezzano, Italy 29,970

1920 Kansu, China 200,000

1923 Kanto, Japan 142,800

1932 Kansu, China 70,000

1934 Bihar-Nepal, India 10,700

1935 Quetta, Pakistan 60,000

1939 Chillan, Chile 30,000

1939 Erzincan, Turkey 30,000

1950 Assam, India 20,000

1960 Agadir, Morocco 12,000

1962 Northwestern Iran 12,230

1968 Northeastern Iran 11,500

1970 Northern Peru 66,700

1972 Managua, Nicaragua 10,000

1976 Guatemala City, Guatemala 23,000

1976 Tangshan, China 800,000

1978 Northeastern Iran 25,000

Other major earthquakes were recorded in some 33 places

[Chart on page 7]

Chart III

Earthquake Deaths

(Estimation based on 1,122 years)

Up to 1914​—1,800 a year

Since 1914​—25,300 a year