Will Jesus return soon? Christians continually quote "no one knows the hour nor the day when the Lord will return..." (Matthew 24:36) Yet, only a couple verses above Jesus says we should know when it is near even at the door!" (Matthew 24:33) As we search the Bible we find prophecy after prophecy beening fulfilled before our eyes. So let us arise and work for the night comes when no man can work.
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. It is not certain this has not been accomplished. It was once argued that meant to each person. However, that could be an eternal argument with 1000s of new births hourly. Yet with the efforts of missionaries plus today's satelite technology it is more probable than not that each nation has been delivered the gospel message.
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 & disobedience and lawlessness will cause the focus and heart of many to grow weary with compromise and delusion.
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.
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
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.
2Peter 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. 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:
5. Perilous times will come for mankind. The economy across the world worsens by the day. The earth is going into travail as a woman in labor pains. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods, fires, and globle warming just to name a few. Scriptures tells us in these last days mens hearts will fail them due to stress, pressures and fear.
2Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
1Timothy 4:1-3 1 ...in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:
6. 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/Terrorism.
7. Transportation will become so advanced people will cross the globe in just hours and science is advancing even now before our eyes. We are cloning our own body parts. Computes has given us world wide communication once again allowing us to share and expand our knowledge. This was the very thing God stopped (recorded in Genesis) byy confusing and changing the languages of the inhabitants of the earth at that time. It was known as the Tower of Bable. The Tower of Babylon (it did exist and has been unearth in Iraq).
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.
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: nuclear power and germ warfare will be released.
Not to even mention rapid spread of immoralty and diseases that are unique to our generation. Woe to innocent children being born into this age. Parents who care will be greatly tested.
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; famines; earthquakes. Just this year alone we have had more severe earthquakes than ever. Increasing in intensity.
Matthew 24:7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in many/different places.
11. There will be violent weather: increased dangers from outer space.
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;
12. Children will be disobedient and rebellious they will become more and more hopeless for the future and believe in "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow does not exist."
2nd Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
13. Christians and Jews will be hated for their faith in and connection with Christ: Minsiters are now being arrested for "hate crimes" because of sermons that label wrong life styles as sin.
Luke 21:17: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
14. 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.
15. 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 privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
16. 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 a leader from the European Union as seen in Daniel 9:26. He will be of the people who destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its sanctuary in AD 70, the Romans.
17. 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.
18. Global means of communication will exist and be the norm:
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.
19. Israel will exist as a nation in the latter days: The Bible promises the 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. Read Ezekiel 37:1-14 to see this prophecy, which was fulfilled in 1948.
20. 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?"
21. Israel will be in possession of Jerusalem (This happened in 1967): The capture of Jerusalem was critical from a prophetic standpoint
Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15.
Jesus prophesied that the generation that shall see this happen shall not pass away before His return.
22. Israel will be surrounded on every side by enemies: Just two years ago in the UN Psalms 83 was fulfilled.
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. Just read the countries listed in the next few verses that will be against Israel.
23. The possession of Jerusalem by Israel 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.
24. Christians will be lukewarm in their faith: Right now it is now being preached that all roads lead to heaven and God. Toleration and compromise are the new foundation stones of our society.
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 rather you were cold or hot, for if you are lukewarm I will spue you our of my mouth. At another time He taught, "He who is not for me, is against me."
25. Many will claim to be Christ: False Christs and false prophets will be very effective in the art of deception: 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.
Matthew 24:5: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
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.
Jude 1:18: How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
26. Idolatry will be common: Many Christians and church doctrines will depart from the faith:
Revelation 9:20: they 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:
1Timothy 4:1: in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
27. Mankind's state of rebellion will be so great, the coming of Christ will catch them completely off-guard:
Luke 21:35: (The return of Christ) as a snare shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
28. Homosexuality and all forms of sin will be flaunted: Sins will become banners of pride rather than kept in secret.
2Thessalonians 2: 12: "...but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Luke 17:28- 30: "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! 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; however the deeper we go into any sin the more our heart harden to the truth.
29. 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 shall buy or sell, unless he that has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
30. There will exist an army of 200 million soldiers to march from the east against Israel:
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. (China’s population is now 1.5 Billion and more than 20% military.
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.
31. Drug use will be rampant:
Revelation 9:21: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries (drugs), 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.
When we begin to collectively see the signs listed above, Christ's return is near!
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.
What must you do to be ready for His return? Click HERE to find out!
Go to Strength for the Journey.
I credit Michael G. Mickey who did the ground work of many of the Scriptures regarding Christ's Return.
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