When we read the headlines, it is not hard to see that our world is on a downward slide. Political tensions, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks are escalating. More and more professed believers seem to be falling away from the faith. It has caused many people to wonder whether these events are part of biblical prophecy.
I can say with certainty that we are closer to the Rapture and the Tribulation than ever before. And, even as the world hurtles toward earth’s Last Days, we can find hope in God’s Word.
The next prophetic event described in Scripture is the Rapture. On that day, “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
In His Olivet Discourse, Jesus stated that no one—including Himself and the angels—knows when the Rapture will occur (Matthew 24:36). But prophetic events cast shadows, giving us a foreshadowing of what is to come. In anticipation of the end of the age, our Lord outlined several signs that would indicate His return was drawing near. These phenomena are increasingly evident in our world today.
The Sign of Deception
As we move toward the Last Days, Jesus said there would be an increasing danger of deception by false teachers. “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5). More and more people will search for leaders to deliver them, and they will seek mystics and religious leaders who claim to have deeper knowledge.
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Deception may be one of the greatest threats to the Church today, but it is nothing new. Before the religious reforms of ancient Israel’s King Josiah, the priests—God’s representatives to the people—set up idols to false gods in the temple (2 Kings 23:4). And the people willingly participated in this idolatry. They didn’t throw God out of their worship. Instead, they treated Him like He was one of many gods. The Israelites synthesized their religion with another.
This type of syncretism is rampant in the world today. Our society is characterized by a culture of toleration that works for everybody but Christians. There is great acceptance and understanding for all sorts of immoral behavior, yet the world considers it unacceptable to speak of absolute Truth. In response, some churches and pastors have departed from sound doctrine. This isn’t just another trend. It is a spirit of deception taking hold of our culture.
For all the deception going on today, we cannot spend our time chasing down every rumor. Our time is better spent focusing on the solution, and that is Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Through Him, we “shall know the truth, and the truth shall make [us] free” (John 8:32).
The Sign of Disputes Among Nations
Jesus warned His disciples that the end of the age would be marked by “wars and rumors of wars” with nations rising against each other (Matthew 24:6,7). As dissension escalates, we can view it as a sign of the times. The book of Revelation tells us that conflict—ceaseless, unending, terrible war—will fill the Tribulation period, and it will escalate until the entire world is involved.
Many countries live at peace today, but there is a growing sense of instability in international affairs. It has been reported that fifty percent of all research scientists are involved in arms development. There is at least one military weapon and four thousand pounds of explosives for every man, woman, and child on earth. In 2019, global military expenditures grew to an astonishing 1.92 trillion U.S. dollars. As shocking as this may seem, long ago the Bible predicted an escalation of conflict, border skirmishes, race wars, and national battles during the End Times.
The Sign of Devastation
Along with the deception and disputes of the Last Days, Jesus warned of “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7). We live in a day when we can scarcely turn on the TV without seeing someone trying to raise money to feed the hungry. Even though God has blessed us with a fruitful, abundant planet, millions of people in the world face food insecurity and scarcity.
COVID-19 has raised global awareness of our vulnerability to novel diseases, but it isn’t the only outbreak in our world today. According to the World Health Organization, there have been recent outbreaks of yellow fever, the plague, Nipah virus, meningitis, and many others. To make matters worse, “superbugs” are developing resistance to antibiotics.
We are also witnessing an increase in the frequency and intensity of earthquakes. Between 1900 and 1969, there were roughly six major quakes every ten years. Recent data indicates that “major earthquakes” now occur more than once a month and “great earthquakes” shake the globe every year. All of these devastating trends are signs that point to the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
The Sign of Deliverance Into Tribulation
In the Last Days, there will be an explosion of antagonism toward God’s people: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). We are already seeing evidence of this today. Headlines carry stories about Christian business owners who are expected to set aside their beliefs in support of secular, progressive ideals. Universities and school boards admit to routinely passing over Christian faculty members for promotions. Everywhere we look, Christianity is under attack in America.
Globally, the situation is even more sobering. During the 2023 World Watch List reporting period, Open Doors recorded the following crimes against God’s people:
- More than 360 million Christians lived under high levels of persecution and discrimination
- 5,621 Christians were martyred
- 2,110 churches and other Christian-affiliated buildings were attacked
- 4,542 believers were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned4
As the Tribulation approaches, many more will pay a high price for living out their faith in our world.
The Olivet Discourse is one of the most comprehensive outlines of prophecy in Scripture. Jesus shared this information so that we could see and understand the times. In Matthew 24:6, He told His disciples, “See to it that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass.”
Biblical prophecy reminds us that the deception, conflict, devastation, and tribulation of the Last Days is no match for Almighty God. When we experience terrible events like the COVID-19 pandemic and persecution, Scripture reminds us that God declares “the end from the beginning” and that His “counsel shall stand” (Isaiah 46:10). By understanding the signs of the End Times in this context, we can join the apostle Paul in saying, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
