About half of this discussion is a synopsis of literature from Bible Prophesy expert Dr. David Reagan and the rest is from my research.
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:42 & 44
Jesus warned that we will not know the day or the hour, but we need to be ever vigilant keeping watch for his return.
But, in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, Paul further warned that the Lord will come as a thief in the night, without warning. But he also said that we are not sons of darkness, but sons of light and by reading the scriptures we can know the season of the Lord’s return. Now is that season.
We also know that God’s character and the fact that he never changes helps us understand his warning signs. Throughout time he has patiently provided signs and given warnings before unleashing his wrath. He warned the people of Noah’s day; He warned Sodom & Gomorrah, He warned Nineveh twice through Jonah and about 150 years later through Nahum. He always provides warnings first and then acts. His prophesy is part of that warning.
There are over 500 Old Testament prophesies about the 2nd coming of the Jesus – a full 4% of the New Testament concerns the 2nd coming, so it is vitally important to know Bible prophesy, so we can be watchful and sober looking for the signs of his return.
That brings us to the signs of his return – Dr. Reagan listed them in categories.
Signs of nature – natural disasters – “Birth Pangs” of natural calamities like earth quakes, tornados, floods, and hurricanes are increasing in frequency and intensity. As prophesied in (Isaiah 26:17 & Matthew 24:8)
Signs of Society – increased lawlessness and immorality – becoming as it was in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5) People will call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) All of the following are on the rise:
Love of self (Humanism)
Love of money (Materialism)
Love of pleasure (Hedonism)
Spiritual signs – there are both negative and positive signs
Increase in false prophets and cults (Matthew 24:5, 11, 24)
Increase in church apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3 & 2 Timothy 4:3)
The overt practice of Satanism and the Occult practice (1 Timothy 4:1)
Persecution of Christians (Matthew 24:9)
One Christian martyred every 6 minutes.
New Age Movement that purposes that man is god, and that we should worship ourselves and do as we please.
Positive signs include: the proclaiming of the gospel worldwide
The great outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32) which started in 1949 with Billy Graham & Oral Roberts
Bible is translated and distributed in all major languages. By the end of 2016 – 636 complete translations of the Bible and 1,442 partial translations of the Bible.
The acceleration of the understanding of Bible Prophesy
Many of the prophesies of the Bible were sealed until the End Time. Prophesies that could not be understood or seemed impossible 50-100 years ago have now come true. (Daniel 12:8) and God answered Daniel in (Daniel 12:9)
Signs of Technology
The explosion of knowledge (by the end of WWII knowledge was doubling every 25 years, as of 2013 doubling every 13 months)
The explosion of rapid transportation systems (past 130 years)
The explosion of worldwide communications systems
Provides the technology for the whole world to see the two witnesses of (Revelation 11:8-12) die and 3½ days later be resurrected and ascend into heaven.
Robotics and holographic technology
Neither the Antichrist or Satan have the power to create life, so they will develop deception that animates the Image of the Beast (Revelation 13:15)
RFID implant and Tattoo ink technologies (Revelation 13:16-17) All the technology needed for the mark of the beast is present today and ready to be used by the Antichrist.
Signs of world politics
Re-establishment of Israel (Isaiah 66:8)(Zechariah 12:2-3)
The Jewish people will be gathered from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:10-12) May 14, 1948
Israel will blossom miraculously (Isaiah 35) (Ezekiel 36:35)
Revival of the Hebrew language (Zephaniah 3:9)
Jews will re-occupy Jerusalem – 6 day war 1967
Israel will become a great military power – Military ranked 15th
Capability of amassing a 200 million man army (Revelation 9:13-16)
The whole world will covet the land of Israel (Ezekiel 35 & 36)
The European Union (Daniel 7:23-24) (Revelation 17:12-13)
Wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6)
International terrorism and lawlessness (Matthew 24:7-12)
We need to have a burden for the lost, because time is up. We are living in the last days. Almost all of these fulfilled prophesies have been fulfilled in my father’s lifetime. Most of them have occurred within my lifetime. Time is almost up, and we are in the twilight of history, before the second coming. We must get people to understand the urgency, the nearness, and to desperation of this moment in time. If you don’t give your life to Christ now, it will be too late. You will have to live through the Tribulation, where half the population of the planet will die horrible deaths and those that live will be plagued by natural and unnatural disasters, vast pain and personal loss. The flood of Noah was a pleasant dip in the pool compared to what awaits during the tribulation. Please don’t be there. Accept Christ as Savior and Lord and you can leave with the rest of the Christians during the rapture of the church. Please don’t let your co-workers, friends and family be there. Have a burden for the lost and share the gospel with anyone that will listen.
Time is up!
Luke 21:28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”