Are more frequent earthquakes a sign of the end times?

from the old testament

• The idea that earthquakes are a sign of the end times is not found in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

• Contextually, Jesus commented about the future destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:1–2), to which the disciples asked, " Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age” (Matthew 24:3). Matthew 24–25 thus answers this question. The disciples apparently assumed the destruction of the temple and the end of the age were the same event. In the rest of this passage, Jesus clarifies.
• Since the list of initial signs directly follows the question, some scholars don't view them as signs of the end times, but as signs that led to the temple’s destruction in AD 70. Other scholars are not convinced, noting that Jesus’ discourse on the end times begins shortly after the signs (Matthew 24:14) and thus arguing that the signs preceded the end times. Because Jesus answers the disciples’ question with both historical and eschatological aspects, this adds difficulty to understanding the section on signs.
• The comment about earthquakes reads as follows: “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7). There have always been both famines and earthquakes, so there’s little about Jesus’ statement that helps identify what’s different about those famines and earthquakes. It may, indeed, refer to the frequency of earthquakes, though that’s not explicitly stated. It does appear to imply that earthquakes will be in multiple places at once. But even there, care must be taken.
• In addition to earthquakes (and famines), Jesus gave other signs. He said that “many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray” (Matthew 24:5). This indicates that there will be widespread spiritual deception (cf. 2 Timothy 3:1–5). He also said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6a).
• Because these signs are all together, some have argued that it’s not the frequency of earthquakes so much as the convergence of signs—them all happening at once—that will be the true sign.
• While possible, it’s important to note Jesus’ reason for mentioning the signs at all. He said, “See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6b). Though He was speaking specifically about war, it’s reasonable to conclude that He gave the same reason for all of the signs in this section. Wars and frequent earthquakes can cause even believers to panic. Jesus was saying that even when all that is happening, not to worry. The end has not yet come.
• In what way, then, are they signs of the end times? Jesus said, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). A “birth pain” is a contraction a woman has leading up to the birth of a child. Being the “beginning of the birth pains” means these signs effectively introduce not the end times but what happens before them. Thus, they only indirectly indicate that the end times are coming and are primarily given to assure believers that things aren’t happening unexpectedly.
• In answering the disciples’ question more broadly, Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). This means that when the end times will actually arrive remains a mystery. This makes trying to date the end times with signs a futile exercise.
• Instead of trying to determine when the end times will start, Jesus said, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:42–44). His point was that we can’t know when that day is; therefore, we are to stay awake. In Matthew 25:1–30, Jesus gave two parables teaching this very idea.

implications for today

We look forward to the end times because that’s when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:30–31), make all things right (Revelation 21:5), and initiate our resurrected life with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). It is that anticipation that drives some to try to guess when He will arrive, much like how a small child tries to guess when daddy will come home by listening to passing cars.

However, Scripture gives us warnings and insights into the end, giving us confidence that Jesus will return but not allowing us to establish exactly when that will happen. Therefore, when we watch YouTube and a creator excitedly shows us floods or earthquakes in a certain region, telling us that means Jesus is about to come, we would do well to ignore their assertions. It is likely true that there will be general upheaval as the end approaches, but in some sense, the “birth pains” Jesus described have been happening throughout history. We will exhaust ourselves trying to guess Jesus’ arrival, with as much success as those before us: zero.

Instead, let us use events such as earthquakes to remind us of two things. First, earthquakes exist because of sin. Creation was subjected to futility (Romans 8:20–22) when Adam and Eve sinned. Second, because they remind us of humanity's sin problem, they also remind us that Jesus is coming back to complete His work. When He does, there will be two types of people: His people and His enemies.

He will destroy His enemies (Revelation 19:11–21), leading to their eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). But of His people, He will raise them from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16) to rule and live with Him forevermore in the new Heavens and Earth. At that time, there will be no more earthquakes because sin will be destroyed and everything will be set right!