In what way is Matthew 24:7 prophetic for Our Time?

I see answers that claims that there have always been earthquakes and war. True bu not on the magnitude since 1914.

It is true that there were major quakes in centuries past; furthermore, with their sensitive equipment scientists now detect more than a million quakes a year. But no special instruments are needed for people to know when there is a great earthquake.

Has there actually been a significant number of major earthquakes since 1914? With data obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, supplemented by a number of standard reference works, a tabulation was made in 1984 that included only earthquakes that measured 7.5 or more on the Richter scale, or that resulted in destruction of five million dollars (U.S.) or more in property, or that caused 100 or more deaths. It was calculated that there had been 856 of such earthquakes during the 2,000 years before 1914. The same tabulation showed that in just 69 years following 1914 there were 605 of such quakes. That means that, in comparison with the previous 2,000 years, the average per year has been 20 times as great since 1914.

War has marred life on the earth for thousands of years. International wars and wars within nations have been fought. But beginning in 1914 the first world war was fought. This was not merely a conflict between two armies on the battlefield. For the first time, all the major powers were at war. Entire nations—including civilian populations—were mobilized to support the war effort. It is estimated that by the end of the war 93 percent of the population of the world was involved

There have been many famines in human history. To what extent has the 20th century been afflicted by them? World war led to widespread starvation in Europe and Asia. Africa has been stricken by drought, resulting in extensive food shortages. Late in 1980 the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that 450 million people were hungry to the point of starvation, and up to a billion did not have enough to eat. Of these, some 40 million a year actually die—in some years as many as 50 million—because of the shortage of food.

In the last few years there have definitely been an increase in Earthquakes on monstrous magnitude in places that don't get earthquakes and they are increasing again.Three small tsunamis of up to 80 centimetres have struck the Indonesian coast following a massive 8.6 earthquake hit waters off the island of Sumatra, which triggered tsunami warnings across the Indian ocean-Just in on News any more sceptics?

This is slightly off topic...but lends more evidence to the discussion in a rather humorous way. =)

I'm not sure if you remember back in April 2010, there was a group of women who were outraged by an Iranian religious cleric's (absurd, non-scriptural) statement that earthquakes are on the rise because of the increase of immodest & promiscuous clothing worn by godless women in modern times...which led to an "experimental" protest (headed by an atheist & feminist activist), called "Boobquake" where thousands of women gathered together in their most revealing & cleavage-showing attire, determined to disprove this cleric's claim.

(basically challenging God to cause an earthquake that day if their immodesty was indeed the source of "His wrath") lol.

The hilarious IRONY of this, is that a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan the very same day as the "boobquake" protest. lol. (but that's beside the point)

Regardless of this coincidence, Obviously large earthquakes are happening recently with such frequency, that one DID happen to occur the very same day. And the news anchor covering the story made a very interesting & important point in this regard...MINOR earthquakes happen all the time all around the world,...(I think he said apprx 30 minor quakes happen everyday)...but since those quakes are so small & insignificant that they go without detection for the most part, they could not be what Jesus was referring to.

Jesus made 2 vital distinctions:

(1) GREAT earthquakes would occur (2) In one place after another.

It's the increase of GREAT earthquakes (like the 6.5 magnitude one mentioned above) that would be occuring during a particular time period in history (while the other aspects of the sign were also occuring simultaneously within the same time period) and they would be large enough to catch the attention of human society everywhere, regardless of where they lived on planet earth.

And THAT is what makes the 20th/21st century unique in regard to Jesus' prophecy.

The only way for people all over the entire inhabited world to become aware of "great earthquakes" happening in one place after another, requires international news coverage and the ability to measure & record the size & location of earthquakes.

So the TIMING is absolutely essential in relation to "the sign" of Jesus' presence. Let's just say (for the sake of argument).. that millions of earthquakes had taken place in earlier centuries, it still would not have made a bit of difference in regard to the fulfillment of this prophecy...and the reason for that is because "the sign" Jesus spoke of would need to be seen and become known by common people living all around the world. How else would humanity (as a whole) have awareness of earthquakes happening "in one place after another" unless they had access to modern-day international news coverage?

Which means this prophecy could not have fulfillment at ANY OTHER TIME PERIOD IN HISTORY because the technology which makes this knowledge possible on a worldwide scale had not been invented yet.

Another one for ya Zeb. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/strong-earthquake-sh...

15 happened around the world so far this month. CBS just had a segment on them.

Mark 13:28 “Now from the fig tree learn the illustration: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and puts forth its leaves, YOU know that summer is near. 29 Likewise also YOU, when YOU see these things happening, know that he is near, at the doors.

Verse 29 is key to knowing the stream of time.

And I wouldn't want to forget about (The ruining of the earth) Rev.11:18 http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/329955/20120418/ku...

That sure is in our day. There is always famine in Africa, but I am sure there is famine in other places too. Since 1914, there has only been a few days where there was no war anywhere on Earth, so that's true too. Also, the earthquakes keep getting bigger and in more places lately, so Matt. 24:7 is certainly in our time and if that's not enough, how about 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away. 6 For from these arise those men who slyly work their way into households and lead as their captives weak women loaded down with sins, led by various desires, 7 always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

Jesus said, that his disciples would recognize the time of the end

or rather, when he took the throne in heaven, by these signs.

Then it is a composite sign, that his followers are to be awake for.

Pay attention to.

Never before in man's history have these pangs of distress been so prevalent.

Raise your head up high, and know that your deliverance is near.

These are interesting links with maps showing the latest quakes:

http://earthquakes.tafoni.net/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactiv...

Many are obviously in denial. Where's the discernment?

For some 35 years prior to 1914, The Watchtower (now the most widely distributed religious magazine on earth) had been calling attention to 1914 as a year marked in Bible prophecy. These prophecies began to have a remarkable fulfillment in 1914. One of these was Jesus’ own prophecy, uttered 1,900 years ago, concerning “the sign” that would appear at the end of the system of things and that would prove that he was invisibly present with kingly power. In answer to his disciples’ question about this “sign,” he said: “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.” (Matthew 24:3, 7, 8) In striking fulfillment, the first of the world wars started in 1914, bringing destruction seven times greater than all the 900 wars of the preceding 2,500 years! Pangs of distress have continued ever since. Have you experienced the war destruction, the food shortages, or any of the great earthquakes that have plagued the earth since 1914? If so, you have been an eyewitness of “the sign” of “the time of the end” of this system of things.—Daniel 12:4.

The “pangs of distress” have heightened through World War II, which was four times as destructive as World War I, and on into the nuclear age, fulfilling Jesus’ further prophecy: “On the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out . . . , while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.” (Luke 21:25, 26)

One thing some don't seem to realize those things have "ACCELERATED" to an extremely high degree in OUR time unlike any time in history. As some have pointed out. Science itself accepts that acceleration as more erratic and unusual. So you can say this is very much more prophetic for Our Time

Wars, earthquakes and famines. Right... as if this doesn't happen on a regular basis.

that is Jesus speaking so it is under the old law ten commandments. Jesus ushered in a new covenant at his death on the cross a will only goes into effect when the one who made it is proven dead, just like your will if you have one when will it go into effect? the new covenant that Jesus ushered in (hebrews 10:16,18) where your sins and lawless acts I will rembember no more and where these have been (not will be) have been taken away there is no longer any sacrafice for sin.