Signs of the Times

Image Copyright © Time Magazine.

Scripture is filled with prophecies related to the End Times.  Many of us gravitate toward these  –  partly from a desire to understand the world in which we live, and partly from a genuine longing for Christ’s return.

Dismayed by the sadness and turmoil around us, Christians ache for the promise of heaven, for peace on earth and perfect justice.  The temptation is to turn away from the world and its troubles.  We cannot though do that.

Christians are called to be salt and light to the world, to ease the world’s pain and share with the lost the hope Christ alone can offer.  That is our role.

As we see darkness rising in the world, we have two choices:  either to give in to discouragement and despair, or fight ignorance and injustice as Christ would have us do.  He put us here for a purpose.

In the same way, End Times prophecy can be viewed either from the perspective of hope or despair.

Evil may be gaining ground, but its days are numbered.  Christ will return to rule and reign forever.  Each day brings us closer to that eventuality.

With this in mind, Dr. David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries and others have compiled lists of End Times prophecies [1].  The list here does not claim to be exhaustive.  Taken as a whole, however, it is remarkably persuasive.

Nature

1. Increasing instability of nature – “And there will be great earthquakes in various places…and there will be fearful sights…” (Luke 21: 11).
2. Signs in the heavens – “…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matt. 24: 29).

Immorality/Hedonism

1. Increasing immorality – “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24: 37); “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” (Rom. 1: 24-25).
2. Increasing hedonism – “For men will be…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3: 2, 4).
3. Depraved entertainment – “…there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts” (Jude 18).
4. Increasing use of drugs – “For men will be…without self-control...” (2 Tim. 3: 2-3); “And they did not repent of their…sorceries [pharmakeia]…” (Rev. 9: 21).

Lawlessness

1. Calling evil good and good evil – “For men will be…despisers of good” (2 Tim. 3: 2-3).
2. Increasing lawlessness and violence – “..lawlessness will abound…” (Matt. 24: 12).

Apostacy

1. Increasing despair – “..the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24: 12).
2. Increasing materialism – “For men will be…lovers of money…” (2 Tim. 3: 2).
3. Increasing influence of humanism – “For men will be lovers of themselves…” (2 Tim. 3: 2).
4. Denial of Creation by God – “…[S]ince the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom. 1: 20-21).
5. Denial of the Second Coming – “...scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to 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 creation‘” (2 Peter 3: 3-4).
6. Increasing blasphemy – “For men will be…blasphemers…” (2 Tim. 3: 2).
7. Increasing paganism – “For men will be…unholy” (2 Tim. 3: 2).
8. Increasing occultism – “…in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4: 1).
9. The explosion of cults – “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matt. 24: 11).
10. Proliferation of false Christs – “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matt. 24: 5).
11. Increasing apostasy in the church – “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4: 3-4).
12. Increasing attacks on the Bible and Christ – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1: 18).
13. Increasing persecution of Christians – “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24: 9); “It was granted to him [the Antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them” (Rev. 13: 7).

Knowledge/Technology

1. Increasing knowledge and computers – “…and knowledge shall increase” (Dan. 12: 4).
2. Increasing travel – “…many shall run to and fro…”(Dan. 12: 4).
   
3. Television and satellite technology – “And…[the] dead bodies [of the two witnesses] will lie in the street of the great city…where also our Lord was crucified.  Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies…” (Rev. 11: 8-9).
4. Virtual reality – “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do…He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should…speak…” (Rev. 13: 14-15).

Wars and Rumors of Wars

1. Wars and rumors of wars – “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matt. 24: 6).
2. Weapons of mass destruction – “Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths” (Zech. 14: 12).
3. Ethnic conflict – “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Mark 13: 8).
4. Arab threat to Israel – “Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ^‘Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it…” (Ezek. 35: 1).
5. Russian threat to Israel – “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal…'”(Ezek. 38: 1); “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will…lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.  Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand’” (Ezek. 39: 1-3).
6. Far Eastern military powers – “Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million…” (Rev. 9: 16); “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared” (Rev. 16: 12).

Famine/Pestilence

1. Increasing famine – “And there will be…famines…” (Luke 21: 11).
2. Increasing pestilence – “And there will be…pestilences…” (Luke 21: 11).

One World Government

1. Mark of the Beast – “He [the Antichrist] causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads” (rev. 13: 16).
2. Global economic system – “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast [the Antichrist], or the number of his name” (Rev. 13: 17).
3. Unification of Europe – “After this I saw in the night visions…a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible…It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” Dan. 7: 7); “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided…so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile” (Dan. 2: 41-42).
4. One World Government – “The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth…” (Dan 7: 23); “And authority was given him [the Antichrist] over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (Rev. 13: 7).

Israel

1. Re-establishment of Israel – “Who has seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?  Or shall a nation be born at once?  For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children” (Isa. 66: 8).
2. Regathering of the Jews – “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse…[and] the Lord shall set His hand again…To recover the remnant of His people…And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11: 10-12).
3. Reclamation of the land of Israel from desolation to abundance – “The desolate land shall be tilled…So they will say, ‘This land…has become like the garden of Eden…and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited‘” (Ezek. 36: 34-35).
4. Revival of biblical Hebrew – “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language…” (Zeph. 3: 9).
5. Re-occupation of Jerusalem – “And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21: 24); “…but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place – Jerusalem” (Zech 12: 6).
6. The revival of Davidic worship – “On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David…And rebuild it as in the days of old” (Amos 9: 11).
7. The revival of Messianic Judaism – “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord…Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low…And…The glory of the Lord shall be revealed…'” (Isa. 40: 3-5).
8. Re-focusing of world politics on Israel – “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zech. 12: 3).
9. Resurgence of Israeli military – “In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left…”(Zech. 12: 6).
10. Israel to be partitioned – “They have also divided up My land” (Joel 3: 2).
11. A peace treaty the Antichrist will break – “Then he [the Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [a 7 year period]; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (Dan. 9: 27).

Gospel

1. Translation of the Bible into many languages -“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached…as a witness to all the nations...” (Matt. 24: 14).
2. Preaching the Gospel worldwide – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world…” (Matt. 24: 14).
3. Outpouring of the Holy Spirit – “And it shall come to pass…That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2: 28).
4. The understanding of Bible prophecy – “Although I heard, I did not understand…And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Dan. 12: 8-9).

Maranatha!

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[1]  Lamb and Lion Ministries, https://christinprophecy.org/.

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse https://avoicereclaimed.com