THE SIGNS OF END TIMES

This blog has been focused on presenting my understanding of bible prophecy based on a personal verse-by-verse study of the scripture. There are those who assert that the study of prophecy is a waste of time and energy. The Lord Jesus, however, chastised the spiritual leaders of His day for not recognizing the prophetic “signs of the times” that identified Him as the Messiah.

Matthew 16:2–3 “He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

Why did the Lord expect them to recognize those signs? Because of the revelation of God’s word through the prophets. Daniel prophesied of the timeframe. Micah prophesied where He would be born. Isaiah prophesied of the miracles that He would do. John the Baptist personally identified Him.

I think the Lord expects no less of the believer today. He personally gave a detailed prophecy about the end times preceding His return that is more commonly known as the Olivet Discourse and is recorded in Matthew 24-25. In addition, the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy giving specific warning of things to expect that would signal the “latter times.”

“So what?” is the refrain of many. Christians have been saying these things for hundreds of years. That is true, and even this attitude was foretold by the Apostle Peter.

2 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.”

As is often the case, the revelation of scripture becomes clearer over time. I believe this truth was prophesied by Daniel.

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.”

Many make application of this verse to the increase of knowledge as a whole. I believe that the primary intent is regarding the understanding of scripture. The prophet Amos used very similar wording that seems to point in that direction.

Amos 8:11–12 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”

The verse in Daniel 12 appears to be the bookend to the verse in Amos.

There is also another important motivation for the study of prophecy from the words of the Apostle John in the opening words of the book of Revelation.

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

One cannot possibly hope to piece together the prophecy puzzle without studying the book of Revelation, and the Holy Spirit tells us through John that there is a special blessing for those who “read…hear…and keep” the things recorded in that book.

All that being said, I thought it was time to give the main reasons why I believe that we are in the end times and can expect the soon (days or years—not centuries) return of the Lord Jesus. This list is based on the studies reported in these blog posts, and I am not going to repeat the scriptural foundation for each observation. It is just my opinion, based on my study of scripture, of the main signs of the times for Jesus’ return.

• The primary sign is the reestablishment of the nation of Israel as foretold by the prophet Ezekiel.

• The exponential increase of seducing spirits in the “church” that are teaching the doctrines of devils as Paul warned Timothy. It’s heartbreaking to hear those who identify themselves as pastors and teachers of the Word of God declare that scripture is full of mistakes and can’t be taken literally.

• The quickly increasing worldwide acceptance of homosexuality and the degeneracy of morals as a whole.

• The alignment of the nations in preparation for the war against Israel described by the prophet Ezekiel (chapters 38-39).

• The growing worldwide rejection of truth for the belief of fables and the aggressiveness with which these fables are defended. For example: God did not create the world; it exploded into being out of nothing. Chance and time resulted in the miraculous detailed intricacy and perfection found in the universe; a designer was not necessary. I always think of the following verse in 1Timothy with regard to this issue: 1 Timothy 6:20–21 “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.”

• The exponential increase in both the number and magnitude of earthquakes.

• The speed at which we are approaching becoming a cashless society with the technology to control buying and selling at a global level.

• The ever increasing call among the nations for worldwide governance.

• The existing technology that allows events around the world to be seen all over the globe in real time.

• The existing capability for man to destroy humanity from off the face of the earth.

• The “advances” in science in the fields of genetics and transhumanism that will blur the lines of defining personhood. Frankly, I just don’t think the Lord will allow this type of science to corrupt the human population to a vast degree before He intervenes with judgment and the establishment of His kingdom.

Even so-------Come Lord Jesus!