Matthew 24:7 - Famines and earthquakes (1st century biblical & historial fulfillment?)

Matthew 24:7 (1st century biblical & historical fulfillment?)


Matthew 24:6 - Wars (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:6 & Mark 13:7 - The end... of what? (1st century understanding & imminence?):
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Matthew 24:7

Matthew 24:8 - Birth-pains (1st century biblical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:7: "For nation will-arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there-will-be famines and earthquakes in various-places."

The same Greek words that are used in the various passages will be CAPITALIZED.


Famine in Acts?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:7: "there-will-be FAMINES".

In the 1st century in Acts 11, there was "a great FAMINE over the whole world — which took place in-the-time-of Claudius" (Acts 11:28).


Famines in the 1st century?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:7: "there-will-be FAMINES". 

In the 1st century, historians reported several famines that happened after this statement spoken by Jesus. 

The historian Josephus reported that around AD 47 there was a famine in Jerusalem, probably referring to the "FAMINE" (Acts 11:28) mentioned in Acts 11 "which took place in-the-time-of Claudius" (Acts 11:28).

The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "Antiquities of the Jews":

(10.1.3): "Herod also, the brother of the deceased Agrippa, who was then possessed of the royal authority over Chalcis, petitioned Claudius Cesar for the authority over the temple, and the money of the sacred treasure, and the choice of the High Priests: and obtained all that he petitioned for"

(10.2.5): "her coming was of very great advantage to the people of Jerusalem. For whereas a famine did oppress them at that time, and many people died for want of what was necessary to procure food withal [...]. And when her son Izates was informed of this famine, he sent great sums of money to the principal men in Jerusalem"



The historian Tacitus reported a famine around AD 51 as there was a shortage of corn again. He reported that this was among "Many prodigies" which "occurred during the year".

The Roman historian Tacitus (who was born in the 1st century) wrote in "Annals":

(12.43): "Many prodigies occurred during the year. Ominous birds took their seat on the Capitol; ​8 houses were overturned by repeated shocks of earthquake, and, as the panic spread, the weak were trampled underfoot in the trepidation of the crowd. A shortage of corn, again, and the famine which resulted, were construed as a supernatural warning. Nor were the complaints always whispered. Claudius, sitting in judgement, was surrounded by a wildly clamorous mob, and, driven into the farthest corner of the Forum, was there subjected to violent pressure, until, with the help of a body of troops, he forced a way through the hostile throng."



The historian Josephus reported that around AD 68 there was a famine in Jerusalem as a result of the Romans armies surrounding it.

The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":

(5.12.3): "So all hope of escaping was now cut off from the Jews, together with their liberty of going out of the city. Then did the famine widen its progress, and devoured the people by whole houses and families. The upper rooms were full of women and children that were dying by famine: and the lanes of the city were full of the dead bodies of the aged. The children also, and the young men wandred about the market places like shadows, all swelled with the famine, and fell down dead, wheresoever their misery seized them"



Earthquakes in Matthew and Acts?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:7 that there will be "EARTHQUAKES in various-places". In the parallel account in Luke, it is written that there will be "GREAT EARTHQUAKES" (Luke 21:11).

In the 1st century in Matthew 27, an "EARTHQUAKE" (Matthew 27:54) took place when Jesus was on the cross.

In the 1st century in Matthew 28, "(a) GREAT EARTHQUAKE took-place" (Matthew 28:2) when an angel of the Lord came to roll away the stone of the tomb of Jesus three days from the death of Jesus.

In the 1st century in Acts 16, when Paul and Silas were prisoners, "(a) GREAT EARTHQUAKE took-place, so-that the foundations (of) the jailhouse were-shaken" (Acts 16:26).


Earthquakes in the 1st century?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:7 that there will be "EARTHQUAKES in various-places".


The historian Tacitus reported repeated shocks of earthquake around AD 51. He reported that this was among "Many prodigies" which "occurred during the year".

The Roman historian Tacitus (who was born in the 1st century) wrote in "Annals":

(12.43): "Many prodigies occurred during the year. Ominous birds took their seat on the Capitol; ​8 houses were overturned by repeated shocks of earthquake, and, as the panic spread, the weak were trampled underfoot in the trepidation of the crowd."



A 1st century author Stoic Philosopher reported that often cities in Asia would be laid low by an earthquake. He wrote this at some point before he would end up dying around AD 65.

A 1st century Stoic Philosopher Seneca the Younger wrote in "Epistles":

(XCI.10): "How often have cities in Asia, how often in Achaia, been laid low by a single shock of earthquake! How many towns in Syria, how many in Macedonia, have been swallowed up! How often has this kind of destruction laid Cyprus in ruins? How often has Paphos collapsed? Not infrequently are tidings brought to us of the utter destruction of entire cities"



The historian Josephus reported "amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that was in an earthquake" around the start of the First Jewish-Roman War around AD 66. He added that "These things were a manifest indication that some destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was put into this disorder".

The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":

(4.286-287 (4:4:5)): "(286) for there broke out a prodigious storm in the night, with the utmost violence, and very strong winds, with the largest showers of rain, with continual lightnings, terrible thunderings, and amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that was in an earthquake. (287) These things were a manifest indication that some destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was put into this disorder; and anyone would guess that these wonders foreshowed some grand calamities that were coming."


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