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Posted on 04/23/2022 6:50:51 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
After two years of global turmoil, people are starting to realize we aren’t going to “return to normal.” We’ve endured a global pandemic, widespread social unrest, vaccine passports, and compounding global supply chain issues. Now, we have a major war in Eastern Europe, fuel and food price inflation, and rumors of an impending global financial crisis.
Everywhere you look, it seems as though the end is near. Is it? What does the Bible say? How close are the end times, the Tribulation, and the rapture of the church?
Fortunately, we don’t have to guess. Jesus Himself told us how to recognize the general timeframe of His return. When the disciples said, “Tell us the signs of your coming and the end of the age” (Matthew 24:3), Jesus told them a number of things to look for. He then said, “When you see all these things, you can know my return is near. I’m right at the door” (Matthew 24:33). He also said, “When all these things begin to happen, look up for your salvation is near!” (Luke 21:28).
This means the #1 indication Jesus will return soon is all the signs appearing together. Both Jesus and the prophets told us what those signs are, and the appearance of just one is reason enough to take notice. But the arrival of one sign after another demands your attention. It’s the sign Jesus said to look for. This convergence of signs is confirmation our generation will witness the Second Coming – not according to me, but according to Jesus.
The Convergence of Signs
So, what are these signs? This article will only cite a few. These signs are undeniable, and their convergence should convince you the return of the Lord is close at hand. They include:
Israel Back in the Land – God promised to bring the Jewish people back into the land of Israel before He returned (Jeremiah 23:7-8). He said He would call them from “among the nations” (Ezekiel 39:28), from “the farthest corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12), and from “north, south, east, and west” (Psalm 107:3). He promised to welcome them home from the lands where they were scattered (Ezekiel 20:34). When they did, He promised to return and establish His everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 11:11-12).
The Jewish People in Control of Jerusalem – Jesus said armies would surround Jerusalem, destroy the city, and enslave its citizens. The Roman legions fulfilled this prophecy in A.D. 70. Jesus then said people other than the Jewish people will control Jerusalem for a time, until the Jewish people once again control Jerusalem. When they did, Jesus promised to return (Luke 21:24-28). Since 1967, the Jewish people have controlled Jerusalem.
The Gospel Preached Throughout the World – When asked about the end of the age and the signs of His coming, Jesus said to look for a very specific sign. He said the Gospel will be preached throughout the entire world. Every nation will hear it. And then? And then, the end will come (Matthew 24:14). For centuries after the crucifixion, the Gospel was confined to a small area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. In the past two centuries, Christians have brought the Gospel to every nation in the world. Today, missionaries are in every nation. The Bible is translated into hundreds of languages, and the message of Jesus is sent around the world by radio, TV, satellite, and the Internet. For the first time in history, this generation is on the verge of spreading the Gospel to every last person on earth.
An Increase in Travel and Knowledge – Six hundred years before Jesus, an angel gave Daniel a special message. He said “travel and knowledge” will increase in the end times (Daniel 12:4). For centuries of human history, dramatic gains in travel and knowledge did NOT take place. Yet the last two hundred years have seen explosions in the speed and frequency of travel as well as the amount and availability of knowledge.
Arrival of the Exponential Curve – Jesus said a variety of global signs will come before His return and the end of the age. These signs will be spiritual, natural, societal, and political in nature. He said they will appear in a distinct way – “like birth pains” (Matthew 24:3‐8). This means the frequency and intensity of these signs will increase as we near His return. Our generation has seen the exponential increase in war and famine Jesus said to look for. In the 20th Century alone, more people died from war and famine than lived on the earth when Jesus spoke these words.
Israel Surrounded by Enemies – The Bible says enemies will surround Israel in the end times. Those enemies will say, “Come, let us wipe away the nation of Israel. Let’s destroy the memory of its existence” (Psalm 83:4) and “Let us take for ourselves these pasturelands of God” (Psalm 83:12). Ezekiel said Israel’s neighbors will say, “God has given their land to us” (Ezekiel 11:14‐17), and “Israel and Judah are ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care if their God is there?” (Ezekiel 35:10). Ever since the rebirth of Israel in 1948, the daily headlines have included these Bible verses. Israel’s Muslim neighbors claim the land of Israel for themselves, and they have no regard for the God of Israel.
Israel’s Exceedingly Great Army – Ezekiel said, in the end times, Israel will field “an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10). Zechariah said Israel will be like a fire among sheaves of grain, burning up the neighboring nations (Zechariah 12:6), and even the weakest Israeli soldier will be like David (Zechariah 12:8). Since 1948, Israel has fought no less than four conventional wars against its neighbors. Despite being outnumbered more than 50 to 1, Israel has achieved overwhelming victory every time.
Rise of the Gog of Magog Alliance – The Bible says a military alliance that includes Russia, Iran, Turkey, and a number of Muslim nations will attack Israel “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8) when God brings His people home from among the enemy nations (Ezekiel 39:27). Today, we see those very nations coming together for the first time – an alliance that has never existed in world history.
Rise of a United Europe – The Bible says a revived Roman Empire will come to power in the end times (Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation 17). According to Daniel, it will be a ten-nation alliance of weak and strong nations. Some parts will be as strong as iron, while other parts will be as weak as clay (Daniel 2:42). We see the beginning of this alliance in the European Union – a coalition of weak and strong nations struggling to stay together.
The Rise of Global Government – The Bible says a single government will rule the world politically (Revelation 13:7), religiously (Revelation 13:8), and economically (Revelation 13:16‐17) in the last days. It will rule over “all people, tribes, and languages” on the face of the earth (Revelation 13:7). Its authority will be so complete that no one will be able to buy or sell anything without its permission (Revelation 13:16‐17). For centuries, a true global government was impossible. Today, world leaders openly discuss it.
Denial of the Signs – Almost two thousand years ago, Peter issued a warning. He said in the last days people will mock the idea of Jesus returning. They will make fun of those who believe in the Second Coming and say exactly what we hear today – things like, “I thought Jesus was coming back? What happened to His promise? Generation after generation has said He’s coming. Yet, since the beginning of the world, everything has remained the same!” (2 Peter 3:3‐4).
The Hour is Late
Keep in mind, these signs haven’t always been present. Generations of Christians lived and died without witnessing any of these signs. For centuries of Christian history, none of these signs were present. Today, they all are. Jesus said when you see these signs, you can know His return is near. He’s right at the door (Matthew 24:33). In fact, Jesus said the generation witnessing these signs will not pass away before He returns (Matthew 24:34). So despite the skeptics and naysayers, Jesus is coming, and ours is the generation that will witness His return. The convergence of all these signs confirms it.
Are We on the Verge of the Tribulation?
For many years now, we’ve seen the convergence of the signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for. Now, in 2022, we see a specific alignment of events that could lead to the outbreak of the Tribulation at any moment. These specific events are identical in nature to the events the Bible says will occur during the Tribulation. Whether or not these events are merely a preview of the events to come, or the actual events the Bible describes for the Tribulation, remains to be seen. However, keep in mind these events will roll out in the midst of the very season when Jesus said He would return.
So, what are these possible Tribulation events in the making? Here are just a few:
Central Bank Digital Currencies – Over the past couple of years, central banks have openly discussed the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The central banks wield power over some of the largest economies in the world – the United Kingdom, Canada, China, the European Union, and the United States. Despite these public discussions, conventional wisdom says the rollout of CBDCs remains years in the future. The conventional wisdom is wrong. China has already released a digital yuan and recently released digital yuan wallets for both Android and iOS smartphones.
In March, President Biden signed an Executive Order titled “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.” The order requires federal agencies to submit to the President within 180 days:
“a technical evaluation of the technological infrastructure, capacity, and expertise that would be necessary at relevant agencies to facilitate and support the introduction of a CBDC system should one be proposed. The evaluation should specifically address the technical risks of the various designs, including with respect to emerging and future technological developments, such as quantum computing.”
By September 2022, this technical evaluation will be complete. Then, have no doubt about it – once the next crisis hits, the U.S. will roll out its own CBDC to replace the dollar.
Why does this matter? CBDCs will be centralized, government-controlled programmable currency. This means if the government decides it doesn’t like you for whatever reason (think Canadian truckers), they can cut off your access. In other words, you won’t be able to buy or sell. Sound familiar? The Bible says the Antichrist will implement this same system. Those who refuse the mark of the beast will be unable to buy or sell (Revelation 13:17). We’re now on the verge of a global rollout of a technology identical in ability to the mark of the beast technology the Bible says will dominate the world during the Tribulation.
World War III – The Bible says there will be a World War III (Revelation 6:4), and we’re much closer to it today than when 2022 started and probably the closest we’ve been since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Every day seems to bring a new escalation between NATO and its allies and Russia over the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO has sanctioned Russia, is providing arms to the Ukrainian resistance, and many of its members have called for direct intervention in Ukraine. Even if NATO avoids a direct military conflict, all it takes is for Russia to make one mistake that leads to a deadly strike in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, or Romania (all NATO members bordering Ukraine), and all of NATO will be obligated to respond.
A full-blown war between Russia and NATO means World War III and the likely use of nuclear weapons. In 2019, the U.S. ran a war game to simulate what would happen in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The result was nuclear war with over a billion people dead. It’s a stark reminder that, at any moment, the war in Ukraine could escalate into World War III.
Hyperinflation – In 2022, inflation has become a serious problem for almost every major economy in the world. The March 2022 headline inflation number for the U.S. was 8.5% – the highest since 1981. For the EuroZone, it came in at 7.5%. In Germany, wholesale prices rose 22.6% year-over-year. EU natural gas prices increased six-fold. Global oil prices rose 67%, wheat prices doubled, and corn prices went up 50%. Fuel and food riots have erupted in Peru, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. And unrest is brewing in countless other countries as well.
Could we be on the brink of hyperinflation? Maybe. Maybe not. But the Bible says the whole world will one day experience hyperinflation. When that happens, an entire day’s wages will only buy enough food to barely survive (Revelation 6:6).
Global Famine – As we entered 2022, the world already faced a major food crisis, both in terms of supply and price. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse. The Russian invasion of Ukraine cut off Russian and Ukrainian exports via the Black Sea. Together, they account for 12% of all global calories consumed. The sanctions against Russia have compounded ongoing supply chain issues, and many countries have banned agricultural exports. Add in poor harvests, rampant fertilizer shortages, and an avian flu plague destroying millions of chickens and turkeys, and it becomes clear we’re heading toward the worst food crisis in modern times.
In fact, it’s worse than that. Famine is coming on a mass scale. We simply aren’t going to grow enough food in 2022. The result will be a biblical famine. The only question is whether it will be one of the famines Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24:7 or the Tribulation famine of Revelation 6:5-8.
Jesus is Coming Soon
If the world stage is now set for the Tribulation, how close must the rapture be?
The Bible says the rapture will take place before the Tribulation. Jesus promised His church, “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 3:10). If you’re reading this and you’re a Christian, your time on this earth is short. Your race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) is nearing its end, so make sure to finish well. Live a holy, godly life as you look forward to the day of His coming (2 Peter 3:11-12). Take advantage of every opportunity to spread the Gospel. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
The day will come when you will lose the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. So do it now while you still can. Jesus is coming soon.
Did you even read what I offered to you regarding why there are two sets of evangelists, one set during the Church Age evangelizing on Grace. The other evangelists are Jews sealed to evangelize on the imminent coming Messiah Kingdom and His 1000 year reign on the Earth? In you studies of The Revelation have you gotten to chapter seven yet?
Please cite book/chapter and verse where had God poured out His wrath on believers in Yeshua..
Yes I did and yes, there are Jewish evangelists during the Tribulation; so these Jews will do more without the Holy Spirit in three years than all of Christendom did with the Holy Spirit in over 2,000 years and couldn’t accomplish to convince people to believe?
I would also note that during the Jewish led evangelism, there is a recent body of evidence which reinforces the message, namely the Rapture disappearance, the saving of Jerusalem by super natural force, and the revealing of the antiChrist. so yes, during the Tribulation those Jewsih evangelists will be the impetus for a number so great John could not number them coming out of the Tribulation to before the Throne of God.
LOL, there are no such verses, BUT the believers in Jesus who call upon Him during the Tribulation are not being protecte4d from the horrors of the Tribulation.
The 144000 are eventually overcome by the evil one and they aexist doing their evangelizing during the pour out of the wrath, but before the Great Tribulation. All seven years are the Tribulation, as evidenced by Who in Heaven is opening the seals.
The first tribulation is mass deception…. Right there in the fairy tale of flying away God says He will send strong delusions, why? Because some people are .ell bent on believing lies! What to do what to do… in Matthew 24 (Mark 13; and Luke 21), the 7 trumps are given, AFTER Christ was asked what would be the signs of His return…. First thing Christ warned. Let no ‘man’ deceive you.
So I won’t let you deceive me. Thanks
Strange admission. Deception is at the heart of the matter, and I know the rapture doctrine is nothing but deception… it was even prophesied, penned by Ezekiel.. The Heavenly Father states He is NOT pleased with those that teach fly away doctrine…. I am but a mere seed planter, course being the grand scholar you know there are many types of ‘soil’..
Oh, I forgot to cite Ezekiel 13.. wherein the Heavenly Father plainly declares how He views those that preach flying away to save souls.. It is in the Old Testament.
Don’t fret you head, I still will not let you deceive me. BTW, have you found the Church Age in the OT yet?
Grand scholar? LOL, no I just recognize a false teacher when one raises its head. Paul tells me (1 Cor 15:51-58) that not all will sleep but ALL will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. The transformation happens FIRST, so we recognize Him when He comes for us in the clouds (1 John 3:2).
You're referring to a 'pre-tribulation rapture' here, right? The only reason I can see ....is that people "want" to believe that they won't have to suffer during the end times, whether out of fear or out of naivety. But when, in the history of this world, have Christians not had to suffer? When have they been "rescued" before bad things happened?
And why did Jesus mention several times that 'those who endure until the end will be saved'? To the end of what? If Jesus planned to remove believers before the tribulation began, he would have clearly said that, instead of what he did say....wouldn't he?
I would love to believe that we will not have to experience any suffering before the actual end, but I doubt we'll be that lucky. Why would we Christians in these last days be so special as to escape the same persecutions and hell that other Christians have had to endure in past centuries?
I believe we are all special in that we have great strength to endure what is coming...but we will indeed have to "endure until the end".... at which time we, as believers in Jesus Christ as our savior, will be saved. Just as Jesus promised.
Here are the passages I am referring to which I believe shows that Jesus will only come once to retrieve his believers...and that will be at the end of the tribulation before his final battle with Satan. He mentions “for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened”. Who are the elect, if not his flock of believers…..all believers…ie, we Christians? Matthew 24:31 clearly says that the elect will be gathered by angels when Jesus comes at the end of tribulation.
Matthew 24:12-13 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:22 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:31 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Mark 13:13 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Amen and God Bless.
God bless you, Janey. And may His Angels take charge over thee. see you in the clouds.
What part of the word ‘ALL’ confuses you? So long as humans are still in a flesh body, (that is if they have not already returned to the Maker) Jesus has not returned.. what is the point of flying away if Jesus is here, as only the Heavenly Father can destroy souls?
And to you as well.
The words ‘church age’ are no where in the whole of the Bible. But there is the ‘warning’, there is nothing ‘new’ under the sun.. what we were given, as some call the church age, is the opportunity to have sins forgiven without a required ‘blood’ sacrifice.. but all those back to Noah were given the opportunity to accept Christ. Those that accepted Christ are Christians. Why do you ignore them?
Those JEWS WHO FLEE JERUSALEM who endure the great Tribulation will be saved from the horrors which God pours out at the very end of the Tribulation. The word is spoken of and to Jews not the church not the body of Christ Believers.
"he would have clearly said that, instead of what he did say....wouldn't he?" To whom was He speaking and in what context. Too man make the mistake of believing the OLivet Discourse was spoken to and of the Church Age. Look again at what the Jewish disciples asked of Him. He answered for their destiny. In John 14 He speaks of and to the future Church members of the Body of Christ Believers.
I am not stating the born again believers will not suffer anything! History tells us their suffering began with the first converts! we are not appointed to GOD'S wrath (1 Thess 1:10)
Matthew 24:31 refers to Jesus gathering THE JEWS. We of the born again group will already be outta here before that event. The elect refers to others than the members of the Body of Christ. I am too weary to explain that to you ad my eyes are failing me, so have a good noght and see you int he clouds.
You are wasting bandwidth. You are not going to deceive me regardless of the clever posts you might conger up. You are a false teacher.
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