Chapter 13                                  Signs of the Times

At some point in time the prophetic voices of old will come to life with amazing accuracy. We may very well be living in the final generation these prophets spoke about. As we will see in this chapter, some of these signs are already upon us. Every generation should live as if the Lord is returning at any time.  Let us look at the signs the Lord gave us in the Bible that identify this final generation that would be alive at His return. To my knowledge, no other generation in history has been able to fulfill all of the criteria we are about to cover. The Lord says “this generation” will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:34). We have already discussed many of these elements in preceding chapters. For easy reference we will briefly highlight them.

Note: Some interpret the metaphor, “birth pains” (Mat. 24:8; Mark 13:8) to necessitate the signs of the last days will increase in frequency and intensity as the Day draws near. While probably true, rather than succumbing to the distraction of various debates concerning measurements and statistics, we simply need to account for their present activity as precursors as birth pains are precursors to birth.

1.      Wars and disasters.

Matthew 24 (NIV) 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

We have experienced these things throughout time: world wars, the Cold War, dictatorships, fascism, communism, the rise of nuclear threats, bio and chemical weapons, terrorism and fundamental Islam, and a host of others.

Regarding the frequency of earthquakes—Notice from Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 Jesus does not say that earthquake activity will increase as many have speculated. Unlike Matthew and Mark, the Luke account says “there will be great earthquakes” but there is nothing specific to suggest there will be increased earthquake activity. What have increased, on the other hand, are the number of seismographs in the world and the level of recording and reporting sophistication. The US Geological Survey reports that earthquake activity of magnitude 7.0 and higher has been fairly constant. (See the following website-- http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/topics/increase_in_earthquakes.php)

2.      Christian martyrdom.

Matthew 24 (NIV) 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

Though this is not often reported in our secular news media, this is happening all over the world. Recent escalations of fundamental Islam often direct their vengeance toward Christians. Primitive tribes often respond to missionaries with aggressive threats of violence and bloodshed. Political leaders often see Christians as threats to their liberal, godless agendas. Pray for our missionaries who surrender their lives in Christian service to the hostile places of the world. (See the following website--www.persecution.com).

3.      Apostasy—a turning away from the faith.

Matthew 24  10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other;  12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

Political correctness policies in government and business drive people to become silent and indifferent regarding their faith. Church-state separation is misinterpreted, causing widespread confusion and threatening to undermine the foundation of our nation. Social analysts today view some nations as post-Christian. To date, we probably have not experienced the full scale outcome of this prophecy. The fury of the antichrist will precipitate more of this.

4.      Uprising of cults and false religion.

Matthew 24 (NIV) 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people
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We live in a time of accelerated spiritual unrest. At the same time there are people everywhere looking for answers and spiritual fulfillment. Many have had experiences in the Christian church sometime in their lives and have found them to be old-fashioned, dry, stale, and without the vibrant and life-changing presence of the Holy Spirit. Because of this and other reasons, these people turn away to other things hoping to find something that will engage them supernaturally. As we know, the shopping mall of alternatives includes many, even some who call themselves Christian. Satan has created many avenues of intrigue, hoping to lure the children of God away to distraction. Many of these experiences are profoundly spiritual, providing experiences that engage the dabbler in mystifying ways. In our ignorance we assume that because we are tapping into the paranormal, we must be on a path of spiritual discovery that will lead to our ultimate fulfillment. Instead, according to the Bible, they lead to eternal death (Rom. 1:18-32; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Thes. 2:11-12; 2 Peter 2).

5.      Global evangelism.

Matthew 24 (NIV) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Through many mission organizations, aircraft, television, satellite, radio, Internet, and multimedia we are reaching into the far corners of the earth like never before. Thanks to many who have given their lives in evangelism and missions, this task will one day be complete. Just think of what would happen if Christians everywhere would realize the blessing they were missing by not participating in this incredible adventure.

6.      There are many unsuspecting people.

Matthew 24 (NIV) 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

This could easily be left without comment. Our modern, on-the-go generation is so busy these days pursuing careers and paying bills that we have difficulty finding time for spiritual things. In the preoccupations of daily life we may be caught unaware of the climactic events leading to the return of Jesus Christ.

7.      The nation of Israel will be gathered for the third and final time.

Ezekiel 37  20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.

This prophecy was fulfilled on May 14, 1948. Israel gained control/occupation of Jerusalem June 5, 1967 as a result of the Six Day War. Biblical prophecy clearly indicates that Israel would once again return as a nation (Ezekiel 37; 38:8; Isaiah 66:8). Though Israel is largely secular, it is still recognized as a nation and Jewish immigrants are returning to their homeland by the thousands. Temple reconstruction and worship has been in the preparation phases for quite some time. (See www.templeinstitute.com). The “Promised Land” has specific boundaries (Gen. 12:14-18; 15:18-21) and was allotted through blood covenant from God to Abram (Gen. 15:8-21). The inheritance of this land was promised forever to the offspring of Abraham (Gen. 13:15), given to the son of the promise, Isaac (Gen. 15:16; 17:19-21), then Jacob and his offspring (Gen.35:12). Efforts to divide the land in the latter days will be in accordance with the spirit of the antichrist (Dan. 11:39; Joel 3:1-3).

8.      People are traveling the earth increasing in knowledge.

Daniel 12  4 But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

This passage in Daniel gives us the sense or presupposes that means of travel would be greatly improved to facilitate such a quest for knowledge. It must be said here the increase of knowledge does not imply people will become more righteous. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge leads to arrogance, but knowledge of the Lord is greatly commended.

9.      Technology advancements.

Revelation 11 (NIV) 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

People of the earth will be able to witness by television, newspaper, and the Internet world events as they happen. We now have handheld video devices to make this a “virtual reality” (pun intended). US Congress has mandated all television broadcast signals must be converted from analog to digital by February, 2009. This will make television signals readily available for computers and digital devices. It will also open the gateway for the Internet to be more available wirelessly.

We now have technology in place to identify people with a bio-chip that could eventually deny them the ability to buy goods and services (See chapter 1, “Mark of the Beast”).

10.      Growing perplexity over world disasters.

Luke 21 (NIV) 25 “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. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

All we have to do here is read the newspaper headlines.

11. People will be hoarding wealth.

James 5 (NIV)  Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

We see this condition all over our land and around the world. Not all wealthy people fall in this category. Many are wonderful, surrendered, and giving servants of the Lord and view their role in the Church to fund the kingdom of God. Satan, however, can take this challenging lot in life and easily spin it toward pride, power, manipulation and self-indulgence. People are taught by society that through hard work, discipline, and ingenuity they can achieve wealth and that wealth is for personal enjoyment and gratification for a job well done. People have also fallen into the delusion that money is their security rather than the Lord. Without even realizing it, some see no need for God at all, because their physical needs are being met. Often, the wealthy become prideful and compare themselves to others. They look with disgust at the poor and needy. Jesus said we would always have the poor among us. He did not say to step over them or simply walk around them as if they were an obstruction in your path. Could it be that some are sprinkled on our sidewalks, parks, and curbs by God to test the condition of our hearts and define what we value most? Perhaps some of them are angels. We often miss the opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ by clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and housing the homeless. (Mat. 6:1-4: 25:31-46; 26:11; Heb. 13:1-3). Perhaps ministry to the poor is ironically directed towards the fulfillment of our own faith experience (Isaiah 58:6-14). 

12.      Condition of the Church in various places will be sinful and powerless.

2 Timothy 3  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

This passage sadly describes many churches around the world. They have taken only portions of the Bible that are agreeable to them and have refused the deeper truths that require much, but contain the power to transform the life. Their hearts are divided. Praise the Lord for the others that are like a beaming bright light in the darkness that continue to give us hope.

13. Christian leaders stumble and sometimes fall.

Daniel 11 (ESV) 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

At times, people look to human leadership with far too much admiration. The Church is sometimes guilty for exalting its leaders to that of icons and idols of the faith. When we do we endanger that leader to give way to a variety of temptations, some completely erroneous. For the Christian leader, our successes can lead to inflated egos, arrogance, pride, superiority, and the rest. Flattery is a tool of Satan to wedge these things into our private thoughts. Once established in the heart, the Lord loves you enough to restore you to humility. He loves the Church enough to shake us free of idolatry and cause us to re-center our faith, not on human leadership or human institutions of the faith, but Him alone. “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Pray earnestly for your leaders. Dare not compliment them with flattery, but strengthen them with godly encouragement and prayer, giving glory to the Lord.

14. New World Order.

Revelation 13 (ESV) 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”
 … 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.
Revelation 16 (ESV) 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

There was a time when our nation was sovereign, independent, and self-sustaining. There has been an undercurrent of events over time that has jeopardized our ability to function independently as a nation. Here might be a possible list of things contributing to dependency on foreign trade: oil, raw materials, cheaper manufacturing costs, cheaper labor costs, less industrial regulation, off-season produce supply, or increased agricultural imports. As our dependency on foreign trade increases, our sovereignty diminishes.

From another standpoint, the world is getting closer and closer together through improved transportation, Internet commerce, and communication.

On the underside of politics, the Federal Reserve, the United Nations, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg Group, Illuminati, Skull and Bones, etc., continue to cast a shadow of conspiracy into the realm of world political and economic affairs. Various political leaders from time to time mention the new world order as if to till the soil for things to come.

In the Bible, the picture that surfaces is that of a one-world system, a one-world government, and a one-world leader who is very powerful and influential.