Signs of the End Times

As Jesus was leaving the temple, some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. One of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “The time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” What will be the sign that they are about to take place?

Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘The time is near’ — ‘I am he’ — ‘I am the Messiah.’ Do not follow them, they will deceive many.”

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

SIGNS:

1. False Messiahs/False Christs

2. Rumors of Wars

3. Uprisings/Protests

4. Famine/Food Price Increase

5. Earthquakes/Natural Disasters

“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

SIGNS:

1. Israel against the Arab World

2. Israel vs Iran Nuclear War Threat

3. Israel – Palestine Peace Treaty

4. Division of the Land of Israel

5. 1967 borders – giving up of Jerusalem’s sacred sites

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.. right at the door..”

“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be accounted WORTHY to ESCAPE all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Source: Matthew 24 – Mark 13 – Luke 21

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 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.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Source: 2 Timothy 3 – 2 Peter 3