There is an APPARENT increase in earthquakes by simple fact that there is a better global seismic netword AND increased news about quakes we wouldn’t normally hear about IMHO.
I’m sure that when quakes become prophetic, there will be NO problem seeing the increase.
From another thread, I found these stats to be worthwhile.
Footsteps of the Messiah, Chap 4, p96
Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
The earthquake factor is even more interesting. According to the Encyclopedia Americana, between the years 63-1896 A.D. there were only twenty-six recorded earthquakes. Most of the world’s earthquakes began to occur since 1900 (per USGS Natl Earthquake Information Center. Earthquakes with 1,000 or more deaths from 1900.) (http:neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/eqsmajr.html. 12May2000)
More recent web lists form USGS record some 80 quakes from 856AD to 1896, and some 432 major quakes for the 20th century, while in the first decade alone over 432 major quakes over 6.0 have been recorded (this tally is not consistent though, as some of those in the 20th century 432 tally are less than 3.0 located in remote areas or are aftershocks, while frequently over 100 quakes are recorded daily in the same range in the early 21st century. see http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/historical.php)
One article from the “Dispatch from Jerusalem”, 3rdQtr, 1992, p.11 referenced in Footsteps of the Messiah provides a greater number in middle centuries as recorded:
“In the first 1000 years after Jesus, there were approxiamately 5 recorded major earthquakes (although we are sure more occurred in remote locations). However, the trend has been on the increase:
14th century, there were 157 major earthquakes.
15th century, there were 174 major earthquakes.
16th century, there were 253 major earthquakes.
17th century, there were 278 major earthquakes.
18th century, there were 640 major earthquakes.
19th century, there were 2119 major earthquakes.
Nearly 900,000 earthquakes have been recorded thus so far in the 20th century. An earthquake every hour!”
The trend does appear to be undeniably increasing with respect to the impact of earthquakes upon humanity.
There is an APPARENT increase in earthquakes by simple fact that there is a better global seismic netword AND increased news about quakes we wouldn’t normally hear about IMHO.
This idea of an "apparent" increase in earthquakes is what the USGS confirms, in that there are more people, more instruments in more remote areas to measure things and better communications.
So, if there are these factors at work ... (1) more people to notice what has been going on, (2) more instruments to measure what has not been measured before, and (3) better communications to let the rest of the world know and also to communicate these remote earthquakes back to scientists -- then maybe nothing "more" is really happening after all (in terms of earthquakes, right now).
I'm reminded of the saying, "If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around, does it make a noise?" So, we can modify it and say, "If an earthquake happens and no one sees or hears it or measures it, is it really an earthquake?" :-)
But, having said that, the Bible also makes it clear that just before Jesus returns to set up His one-world government over all the people of the world and all the nations -- there is a major, major earthquake that knocks down all the cities of the world, thus destroying the works of the devil. We haven't seen anything like that in any time in history that I'm aware of, short of the world-wide catastrophe of the flood that covered the globe (and, of course, destroyed the cities, too).
This earthquake, though, happens inside the Tribulation and we're not going to see it prior to the Tribulation.
I’m sure that when quakes become prophetic, there will be NO problem seeing the increase.
Well..., right there -- there's the thing, as you said it. When something like this happens, it will not be able to be denied and the world (even the unbelievers) will recognize this as from God. Right now they don't. Right now this can easily be denied. And right now, even though I expect the Rapture at any moment and the coming of the Lord back to the earth, very soon (and after that) -- I can easily deny it.
I don't see any really compelling reason to link up whatever we see today in the way of earthquakes with anything that Scripture has to say with the soon-coming of the Lord to set up His Kingdom. [... and, of course, we're getting "no sign" for His soon coming at the time of the Rapture...]
During the Tribulation period (that seven years) I expect a lot of people on the planet earth, to be getting signs, signs and more signs -- so many, that they will know beyond any doubt, what is about to happen. They will be extremely troubled during that time of the Tribulation. And fortunately (for us... :-) ...) we're not in the Tribulation period (that seven last years prior to Jesus coming to set up the Kingdom).
From the USGS webpage....
We continue to be asked by many people throughout the world if earthquakes are on the increase. Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant.
A partial explanation may lie in the fact that in the last twenty years, we have definitely had an increase in the number of earthquakes we have been able to locate each year. This is because of the tremendous increase in the number of seismograph stations in the world and the many improvements in global communications. In 1931, there were about 350 stations operating in the world; today, there are more than 8,000 stations and the data now comes in rapidly from these stations by electronic mail, internet and satellite. This increase in the number of stations and the more timely receipt of data has allowed us and other seismological centers to locate earthquakes more rapidly and to locate many small earthquakes which were undetected in earlier years. The NEIC now locates about 20,000 earthquakes each year or approximately 50 per day. Also, because of the improvements in communications and the increased interest in the environment and natural disasters, the public now learns about more earthquakes.
According to long-term records (since about 1900), we expect about 17 major earthquakes (7.0 - 7.9) and one great earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year.
See the chart at this USGS webpage...