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The signs that the biblical end-times are now
Matthew 24 tells us a lot about the end-times of this world, culminating in Armageddon and the return of Christ the Messiah. And that we are meant to recognize its approach. When we see certain things happening today, we should recognize that the end is near.
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (Matthew 24:21-22; 32-33)
While we are not to know the exact day or time when Christ should return, we are to know the signs that His appearing is immanent. So what signs should we look for?
1/. Increased wickedness that opposes biblical teachings more and more. Such teachings include sexual alternatives to God’s two sexes of man and woman; a general hatred toward the legitimacy of Israel; an increase in support for religions that oppose the God of the Bible and His people; and growing opposition (often violent or vilifying) to anything biblical.
2/. Increased readiness to go to war especially noted in the middle-east currently in opposition to Israel (see Ezekiel 38).
3/. Increased human suffering including famines and persecution of those who stand against wickedness.
4/. Increase in amount and extent of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods fires, storms.
All these are the beginning of sorrows (= birth pains). (Matthew 24:8) All these above occur as signs that something big is about to happen. Global turmoil will increase as Christ’s return to judge the world approaches. Genuine Christians are warned to be vigilant and prepared for the return of Christ to take them out of this world before the 7 years of disaster judgements of God hit the earth.
5/. The first provable event of the immanence of Christ’s return is that the Church of genuine Christian believers will be taken away (snatched away) to heaven by Christ. This is often termed the Rapture. The world in general may not be aware of this event at the time but should notice that many Bible-believing Christians will suddenly not be there among them. Many who attend church may however not disappear; far too many believe in a non-biblical gospel such as calvinism, mormons, jehovah’s witnesses, and other worldly or cult-like beliefs.
6/. World war will erupt in the middle-east with an army (including from Iran, Turkey, Russia, Libya and Ethiopia) invading Israel.
It is not certain exactly when the Church will be taken away from the earth, but it is likely to be just before or after the time Israel is invaded.
7/. When Israel is invaded, a ruler of Europe (unknown as yet, only to be revealed as the antichrist after the Church has been taken away) will sign a defence treaty or pact with Israel. At this point there will be just seven years left remaining before Armageddon. Once the Church has departed earth, it will be too late for most people to be saved, for now salvation is no longer via the Gentile (non-Israel) church, returning to Israel.
8/. A European army (led by the one who will be called the antichrist) will attack the invading armies and utterly destroy them; also sending destruction upon the nations from where the invading armies came. The war commenced by the antichrist will continue for seven years, culminating in the final battle to end all battles: Armageddon.
9/. There will be seven years of the most intense affliction ever, so much so that it is already termed the great Tribulation. Joel says “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” (Joel 2:31), and Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22)
10/. Either before or soon after the antichrist defeats the armies invading Israel, a new Temple will be built in order that Old Testament sacrifices be restored; these sacrifices will be cancelled again at the mid-point of those seven years when the antichrist sits in the Temple demanding that God’s people Israel worship him in the Temple (as satan) (see Daniel 9:27).
11/. To make way for the new Temple, other buildings and structures on Temple Mount will be removed or destroyed first. This may or may not occur before the Church departs the earth.
12/. Seven years after the antichrist signs that defence treaty with Israel, the antichrist attacks Jerusalem with a huge army of all the nations, with Christ returning to destroy the antichrist’s army before setting up His 1000 year millennial kingdom of peace.
13/. Israel will take possession of all Palestine; all other dwellers will be removed either before the coming 7-year period, or during it.
14/. Eventually Israel will be granted all its land as promised via the Abrahamic covenant, including land now controlled by Jordan, Lebanon and Gaza. Tyre will be rendered uninhabitable, and Gaza will become a place for grazing livestock.
15/. The purpose of these end-times is for God to reclaim title to His people Israel and to the world He created. When Christ sets up His 1000 reign on earth, He will possess title to all His creation and to His people Israel (plus others who have become associated with Israel because of their support for Israel. This requires world leaders to be challenged for that title just as God called Moses to challenge pharaoh for the title of God’s people Israel. And just as God chose pharaoh to be the one Moses challenged (Romans 9:17), God has chosen much of today’s world leadership to be challenged so that God would win the title He desires. And just as pharaoh was not permitted to back off the battle until he’d lost all, today’s leaders will not be permitted to back off the battle until they too have lost all that God demands of them.
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So what does this talk of prophecy all mean to you? If it is reasonably true (and current events certainly do seem to be lining up with much end-times prophecy), then you should assess what it means to you. If these are the end-times, then Israel is being prepared by God to return to being God’s ministry people after 2000 years of being sidelined for their unbelief re their Messiah (Christ) when He walked this earth. Daniel 9:24-27 makes it clear that there is a 7-year ministry period yet remaining to Israel (one week of years) before Armageddon and the return of Christ their Messiah as their King, to rule over them for 1000 years. That remaining 7-year ministry of Israel has not yet begun, for while the Church still remains here on earth, salvation cannot, will not, return to Israel. Romans 11:25-27 tells us that when the Church (the time of the Gentiles) is fulfilled (completed), the Deliverer (or Saviour) will return to Israel and all Israel will now be saved (during that final 7-year period of Israel’s ministry before their Messiah returns at Armageddon). Currently salvation is through the Church, but one day soon the Church will be completed (fulfilled) and they will be snatched away in an event called the Rapture (which means “the snatching away”). The trumpet call will go out to the Church here on earth (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) and the Church (of those who genuinely believe in Christ as Saviour) will be called home. It is likely that only those who are snatched away will actually be aware of this calling to come home.
Then salvation will return to Israel. Right now salvation is through the Church but when the Church is snatched away, then salvation may only be found through Israel’s ministry. If you are not of Israel, then you are a Gentile, and once the Gentile Church has been called home in the Rapture, then there will be very little opportunity to be saved unless you are associated with Israel and its ministry. Effectively, if you are not of Israel, then once the Church is Raptured home to heaven, then you are unlikely to be saved from that time on. The Bible says “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) It is still now acceptable for those of non-Israel nations to be saved, but if these are the end-times, then the door may shut for you once the Church has been taken home to heaven.
After the Church has departed earth then salvation returns to being through Israel’s ministry. For just 7 more years all of Israel who will call upon the name of the Lord will be delivered (saved) (Joel 2:32). And then when satan builds his antichrist forces to oppose Jerusalem at Armageddon, Christ the Messiah will return to defeat all Israel’s enemies, and will then bring judgement upon all those of the nations who would not support Israel during this final 7-year period. During this final 7-year period (often called the Tribulation), those of Israel will be required worship the antichrist (when he sits in the Temple to be worshipped by them) or they will be executed. God enables much of Israel to run to safety (Revelation 12:14-17) with those not able to escape being hunted down and slaughtered. Jesus said (in Matthew 24:15-21) that when Israel saw the abomination that Daniel spoke of (see Daniel 9:27), at the mid-point of the Tribulation, they were to escape as quickly as possible or else. If you are not yet saved through trust in Jesus Christ then do it now for time is short, very short!