Matthew 24
Old Testament Signs of the endtimes:
Horseless carriages or automobiles (Nahum 2:3,4).
Airplanes (Isaiah 31:5).
Desert blossoming as a rose (Isaiah 35:1).
Alignment of a ten nation western confederacy (Daniel 2, 7).
Knowledge explosion (Daniel 12:4).
Great increases in travel (Daniel 12:4).
New Testament Signs of the endtimes:
False Christs and False Prophets (Matthew 24:5,24; 2 Peter 2:1).
Wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6, Mark 13:7).
Famines, earthquakes in divers places, pestilences (Luke 21:11).
Iniquity abounding (Matthew 24:12).
Gospel of the kingdom preached to all the world (Matthew 24:14).
Signs in the sun, moon, and stars, sea and waves roaring (Luke 21:25-27).
Introduction of evil spirits which control cults and false religions (1 Timothy 4:1,2).
The 19 signs of 2 Timothy 3:1-5, signs within man:
Lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (drunkenness, gluttony, deviate sex, drugs), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
Hoarding of gold and silver, and its final demise (James 5:1-3).
Scoffers mocking the Second Coming of Christ (2 Peter 3:3,4).
Lethargy and indifference among God’s people (Revelation 3:14-16).
Invention of the atom bomb (2 Peter 3:10).
Jerusalem under Jewish control (Luke 21:24).
Judgment signs:
As it was in the days of Lot (Luke 17:28,30)
Fiery Judgment (Ezekiel 20:47; Zephaniah 1:18 Malachi 4:1; Revelation 8:7, Revelation 9:18).
As it was in the days of Noah (Gluttony, drunkenness, illicit sex, corruption, violence) (Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:11).
Distress of nations (Luke 21:25).
Hearts failing for fear (Luke 21:26).
Note: Most judgments described in the Book of Revelation, chapters 6-18, are identical to the signs found in Matthew 24 and Luke chapters 17 and 21.
"More is happening right now in Bible prophecy than ever before! "
These signs are hard to ignore...
Everywhere we look today we see these signs, whether it's through reading the newspaper, watching TV, or just looking out our front door.
The Top 7 Signs
#7.....Increase In Knowledge, Travel, Planes, & Cars
The Bible says that there will be a great increase in knowledge during the last days. Daniel 12:4 says:
“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.”
It's incredible when you consider the total accumulation of all the earths' knowledge now doubles every 18-22 months.
#6
Terrorism, Violence, Evil, Falling Away From The Faith
What will it be like during the end of the age just before the return of Christ? Jesus told us what this time will be like:
"But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:37 NKJV)
So the last days will be similar to Noah's day just before the worldwide flood. So to understand better the last days we need to look at how people were living during that generation. The Bible says in Genesis 6:11-13 that:
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
The whole world during this time was filled with violence. Today we live in a world with the constant threat of terrorism. No longer is terrorism limited to one region of the world, such as the Middle East, but now it reaches around the world, even here in the United States with the horrible tragedy of September 11th. Our world is filled with violence, just like in Noah's day.
The world in Noah's day was also full of corruption and evil. Today we live in a world that parallels these same conditions. Mankind's hearts are not full of love, but of greed, hate, and corruption of every kind. When we really look at our world and our society we cannot help but see this is a result of people turning away from God. But it is also a Final Generation Sign.
#5
Middle East Tension
Tensions today in the Middle East hinge on various religious beliefs. The current crisis in Israel is boiling over because of the hatred of the Jews by the surrounding countries. Countries around this tiny nation want Israel and the Jews wiped off the face of the earth.
There is also a continuing struggle over Jerusalem. The Palestinians want Jerusalem as their capital as they push for a Palestinian state. The Jews do not want to give up Jerusalem or Israel, the location of their holy land. Both the Israeli's and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their holy city, yet only Israel has the backing of the Word of God which says that Jerusalem belongs to Israel alone.
In Zechariah 12:2-3 the Lord declares
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."
Since the creation of this nation, Israel has never been at rest. Constant conflict, wars, and problems plague this little country. The truth is the Middle East and Israel will never have true peace until return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
#4
The Spread of Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear weapons have become a major issue in the world we live in today. Amazingly the Bible already predicted this reality ahead of time. The Bible seems to indicate that nuclear warfare will be seen during the Tribulation hour, so the fact that this is a major problem in our world shows that we're drawing near to Christ's return.
#3
The Revived Roman Empire
The Bible says in the end times there will be a Revived Roman Empire. It will be made up of a 10-nation confederacy and will seek to dominate and control the Middle East and the whole world. This will be the one-world government predicted by the prophet Daniel.With the Revived Roman Empire comes a new economic world order. The Revived Roman Empire will seek to control the economy of the world, securing its power globally.
#2
Return of the Jews To Their Land
The Bible says that Jews would be dispersed throughout the entire world until this time when they will return to their own land.
We read about the return of the Jews to their homeland in many different places in the Bible including Ezekiel 36:24 which says:
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”
This is stated again in Amos 9:15:
“And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”
Since the re-establishment of Israel as a nation, Jews from all over the world have returned to their land. Every day more and more Jews are returning to their rightful home which is another amazing Final Sign predicted ahead of time by the Word of God.
#1
Israel As A Nation with Jerusalem As The Capital
So what does this generation have that no generation before could claim? If they knew their Bible prophecy they would know that Israel had to exist as a nation in the end times.
Israel is a requirement for so many other prophecies of the Bible. So if Israel didn't exist today with Jerusalem as the capital, we could reasonably assert that we're not living in the last days.
The very fact that Israel even exists today is absolutely miraculous!
Until 1948 there has been no Israel for 2500 years. The Bible says that Israel will be restored as a nation in the end times. So a generation at 1000 A.D. believing that Christ was coming back did not correctly understand their Bible prophecy.
No other nation or people have reestablished themselves after such a long absence. This is Bible prophecy, words from the mouth of God written thousands of years ago, becoming a reality in our lifetime.
This astonishing prophecy was fulfilled on May 14, 1948, just as Jesus said (additionally the Jews reclaimed Jerusalem as their rightful capital during the Six Day War of 1967). So Final Generation Sign #1 is The Re-establishment of Israel as a nation.
The very fact that Israel even exists as a nation today is a huge sign that we're living in the Final Generation.
Everyone should study about just how significant this prophecy is; the relevance of this cannot be understated. No nation or people have ever revived themselves after such a long period of time. This prophecy is one of the most amazing fulfilled prophecies of our day.
Matthew 24 King James Version:
24:1
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
24:2
And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
24:6
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
24:7
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
24:8
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
24:9
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
24:10
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24:12
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
24:16
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
24:17
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
24:18
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
24:19
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
24:20
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
24:23
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
24:25
Behold, I have told you before.
24:26
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
24:27
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:28
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
24:30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
24:31
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
24:32
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
24:33
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
24:34
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:38
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
24:39
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:40
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
24:41
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
24:43
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
24:44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
24:45
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
24:46
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
24:47
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
24:48
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
24:49
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
24:50
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
24:51
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
