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One of the biggest mysteries in the Bible concerns the timing of
Jesus Christ's return to earth. Although the Bible tells us no one
knows the hour nor the day when the Lord will return, the Bible
is filled with many indicators or conditions we can use to assess
how close we may be to the season of His return.
The signs are as follows:
1. The Gospel will be preached in all the world before the physical
return of Jesus Christ to the earth occurs at Armageddon, although
exhaustive efforts are presently underway to accomplish this:
Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached
in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall
the end come.
2. There will be a mixture of believers and false believers within
the Church body:
Matthew 13:24-30: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed
in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares
among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung
up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the
servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not
thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto
him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said,
Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat
with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the
time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first
the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the
wheat into my barn.
3. There will be scoffers:
The Bible tells us one of the key signs of the end times will be
people doubting the return of Christ will ever happen.
2nd Peter 3:3-4: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the
last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where
is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep,
all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
4. There will be increase in travel and knowledge(Science and technology):
Daniel 12:4: But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the
book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased.
5. Perilous times will come for mankind:
2nd Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come.
6. Mankind will deny God once flooded the earth:
2nd Peter 3:5-6: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by
the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing
out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was,
being overflowed with water, perished:
7. The earth will be swimming in a sea of violence:
As it was in the days of Noah (Luke 17:26), so it shall be at the
end. How was the earth in Noah's time?
Look no further than Genesis 6:11: The earth also was corrupt before
God, and the earth was filled with violence.
8. There will be warfare all over the globe:
Mark 13:8: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom:
9. Mankind will have the capability to destroy all life on the planet:
Unique to our generation, this prophecy could not have been fulfilled
prior to the invention of weapons of mass destruction such as the
nuclear bomb. Matthew 24: 22: And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened.
10. Deadly diseases will be rampant:
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places.
11. Famines will be common:
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places.
12. Earthquakes will be occurring globally:
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places.
13. There will be violent weather:
Luke 21:25- And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon,
and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;
14. Children will be disobedient and rebellious:
2nd Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
15. Christians and Jews will be hated for their faith in and connection
with Christ:
Luke 21:17: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
16. Mankind will be in a state of moral, spiritual decay:
2nd Timothy 3:2-5: For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.
17. Religious cults will flourish:
2nd Peter 2:1: But there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall
bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them,
and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
18. There will be progress made toward a global government:
The European Union, the revived Roman Empire, is alive today and
moving steadily toward the fulfillment of this prophecy as seen
in Daniel 7: 23: "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom
upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall
devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in
pieces." The Antichrist who will lead this world government
(after the rapture of the Christian Church takes place) will be
(or become) leader of the European Union as seen in Daniel 9:26.
He will be a descendant of the people who destroyed the city of
Jerusalem and its sanctuary in AD 70, the Romans.
19. The world will be desperately seeking peace:
1st Thessalonians 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman
with child; and they shall not escape.
20. Global means of communication will exist:
We know this because the book of Revelation teaches us the entire
world will see several events. This is unique to our generation
as only recently in mankind's history have these technologies been
present.
Revelation 11:9: And they of the people and kindreds and tongues
and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half,
and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
21. In the last days, fallen angels will mingle with mankind:
I know this one is going to be controversial, but there is a scriptural
basis for this, as seen in Luke 17:26: And as it was in the days
of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
A careful examination of what was going on in Noah's day seems to
suggest fallen angels were somehow mingling with mankind.
Genesis 6:4: There were giants in the earth in those days; and also
after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men,
and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which
were of old, men of renown.
If so, one of God's motives in destroying mankind at the flood may
have been Satan and his fallen angels, in an attempt to save themselves
from His judgment, were trying to taint the bloodline that would
lead to the birth of Christ.
We find Noah was spared from destruction for three reasons as seen
in Genesis 6:9. They are as follows:
1) Noah was a just man.
2) Noah was perfect in his generations (note this reference to his
bloodline being pure).
3) Noah walked with God.
There is potentially more to the numerous UFO sightings and alien
abduction stories in the news today than we have ever imagined!
22. Israel will exist as a nation in the latter days:
Read Ezekiel 37:1-14 to see this prophecy, which was fulfilled in
1948.
23. Israel's birth as a nation will have happened in one day:
Fulfilled on May 14, 1948 as seen in Isaiah 66:8: "Who hath
heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be
made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once?"
24. Israel will be in possession of Jerusalem (has been since 1967):
This happened as a result of the Six-Day War in 1967. The capture
of Jerusalem was critical from a prophetic standpoint as the Antichrist
will someday enter a rebuilt Holy Temple that will be standing in
Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation Period where he will
declare himself to be God. This event, referred to by most as the
abomination of desolation, is documented in Daniel 9:27 and Matthew
24:15.
25. Israel will be surrounded on every side by enemies:
Psalms 83:4: They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from
being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
26. The possession of Jerusalem will be the source of international
conflict:
Is this happening today or what? It's a HUGE sign to us! Zechariah
12:3: And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for
all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces,
though all the people of the earth be gathered together against
it.
27. Christians will be lukewarm in their faith:
In Christ's address to the seven churches, He says in Revelation
3:15: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would
thou wert cold or hot.
28. Many will claim to be Christ:
Matthew 24:5: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many.
29. False Christs and false prophets will be very effective in the
art of deception:
Matthew 24:24: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,
and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
30. There will be signs in the heavens:
Luke 21:25: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon,
and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring;
31. Mockers will abound because those who live according to their
own desires love to mock those who try to live theirs in a manner
pleasing to God.
Jude 1:18: How that they told you there should be mockers in the
last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
32. Idolatry will be common:
Revelation 9:20: And the rest of the men which were not killed by
these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that
they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and
brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear,
nor walk:
33. Many Christians and church doctrines will depart from the faith:
1st Timothy 4:1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils;
34. Mankind's state of rebellion will be so great, the coming of
Christ will catch them completely off-guard:
Luke 21:35: For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell
on the face of the whole earth.
35. Homosexuality will be flaunted:
Leviticus 20:13: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth
with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall
surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
This is also spoken of in Luke 17:28- 30: "Likewise also as
it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought,
they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot
went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and
destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son
of man is revealed."
Although homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God, all
sin is! I bring up this point because many Christians treat homosexuality
as if it is the most unforgivable sin of all. Jesus Christ forgives
all sins and we, His followers, should be reaching out to these
people with love in our hearts that they might be saved! Homosexuality
is not an unpardonable sin any more than any other sin is!
36. Many will rejoice in their unrighteousness:
2nd Thessalonians 2: 12: "That they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
These people, according to 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, will be subject
to believing the lie the Antichrist will present to the world in
the aftermath of the Rapture of the Church, leading many of them
to eternal damnation. God will allow them to be deceived, it seems,
as a reward for their bold defiance of Him. What a frightening thought!
37. Aliyah will be taking place:
What is Aliyah? Aliyah is the Hebrew word used to describe the physical
return of the Jewish people, the children of Israel, to their ancient
Promised Land, Zion, from abroad.
In Scripture, God promised He would bring the Jews (descendants
of Abraham) back to their Promised Land from all the nations of
the world where He had scattered them! It is happening even as you
read these words.
Ezekiel 36:24: For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather
you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
39. There will be signs Earth's environment is in trouble:
Romans 8:21-23: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered
from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but
ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to
wit], the redemption of our body.
40. Technology will exist capable of tracking the world's population,
finances.
Revelation 13:16-17: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich
and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand,
or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he
that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his
name.
41. The capability will exist for an army of 200 million soldiers
to be formed:
In Revelation 9:16, John sees a specific number of soldiers/"horsemen"
preparing for or entering into war: And the number of the army of
the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the
number of them.
Estimates of the total human population of Earth during Christ's
day typically vary between 100 to 400 million people. In 2004, the
CIA determined China had an estimated 208,143,352 in its population
alone fit for military service. As of 2006, that number had risen
to 281,240,272 men fit for military service.
42. Drug use will be rampant:
Revelation 9:21: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of
their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
The original Greek for the word 'sorceries' is pharmakeia {far-mak-i'-ah}.
It means the use of or the administering of drugs OR sorcery, magical
arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.
43. Evil men, seducers and deceivers will get worse and worse. (2nd
Timothy 3:13)
One doesn't have to think too hard to realize this prophecy is being
dramatically fulfilled in our times. Upon reading this, close your
eyes for a moment and think of how many people you know (or have
heard of from reputable sources) who seem to be evil to the core!
Similarly, think of how many people you know who have fallen victim
to frauds and scams perpetrated by seducers (deceivers/imposters).
The world today seems full of these types with no letup in sight.
44. There will be wars and rumours of war.
Matthew 24:6: And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see
that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass,
but the end is not yet.
It seems that for every international conflict that exists at a
given moment in our present time, there is potential for another
to manifest itself as well. It's as though our world is about to
blow apart at the seams!
45. When we begin to collectively see the signs listed above, Christ's
return is not only near but is here!
Luke 21:28: And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look
up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
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