In Matthew 24:5–8
Jesus gives us some important clues
for
discerning the
approach of the end times
“Many will come in my name, claiming,
‘I am the Christ,’
and will deceive many
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but
see to it that
you are not alarmed
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
An increase in false messiahs,
an increase in warfare, and
increases in famines, plagues, and natural disasters—these are
signs of the end times
In this passage, though, we are given a warning:
we are not to be deceived, because these events
are only the beginning of
birth pains;
the end is still to come
There will be earthquakes, political upheaval,
Wars and attacks on Israel as a sure sign that the
end times are rapidly approaching.
The apostle Paul warned that the last days would bring
a marked
increase in false teaching
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will
abandon the faith and
follow
deceiving spirits
(1 Timothy 4:1)
The last days are described as “perilous times” because
of the increasingly evil character of man and people who actively
“oppose the truth”
(2 Timothy 3:1–9; see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Other possible signs of the end times would include a
rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem,
increased hostility toward Israel,
and advances toward a one-world government.
The most prominent sign of the end times, however,
is the nation of Israel itself. In 1948, Israel was recognized
as a sovereign state, essentially for the first time since AD 70.
God promised Abraham that his posterity would
have Canaan
as “an everlasting possession”
(Genesis 17:8),
and
Ezekiel prophesied a
physical and spiritual resuscitation of Israel
(Ezekiel 37).
Having Israel as a nation in its own land is
important in light of end-times prophecy
because of
Israel’s prominence in eschatology
(Daniel 10:14; 11:41; Revelation 11:8).
With these signs in mind, we can be wise and discerning in regard to the expectation of the end times. We should not, however, interpret any of these singular events as a clear indication of the soon arrival of the end times.
God has given us enough information
that
we can be prepared,
and that is
what we are called to be as
our hearts cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus”
(Revelation 22:20).
Jesus gives us some important clues
for
discerning the
approach of the end times
“Many will come in my name, claiming,
‘I am the Christ,’
and will deceive many
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but
see to it that
you are not alarmed
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
An increase in false messiahs,
an increase in warfare, and
increases in famines, plagues, and natural disasters—these are
signs of the end times
In this passage, though, we are given a warning:
we are not to be deceived, because these events
are only the beginning of
birth pains;
the end is still to come
There will be earthquakes, political upheaval,
Wars and attacks on Israel as a sure sign that the
end times are rapidly approaching.
The apostle Paul warned that the last days would bring
a marked
increase in false teaching
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will
abandon the faith and
follow
deceiving spirits
(1 Timothy 4:1)
The last days are described as “perilous times” because
of the increasingly evil character of man and people who actively
“oppose the truth”
(2 Timothy 3:1–9; see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
Other possible signs of the end times would include a
rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem,
increased hostility toward Israel,
and advances toward a one-world government.
The most prominent sign of the end times, however,
is the nation of Israel itself. In 1948, Israel was recognized
as a sovereign state, essentially for the first time since AD 70.
God promised Abraham that his posterity would
have Canaan
as “an everlasting possession”
(Genesis 17:8),
and
Ezekiel prophesied a
physical and spiritual resuscitation of Israel
(Ezekiel 37).
Having Israel as a nation in its own land is
important in light of end-times prophecy
because of
Israel’s prominence in eschatology
(Daniel 10:14; 11:41; Revelation 11:8).
With these signs in mind, we can be wise and discerning in regard to the expectation of the end times. We should not, however, interpret any of these singular events as a clear indication of the soon arrival of the end times.
God has given us enough information
that
we can be prepared,
and that is
what we are called to be as
our hearts cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus”
(Revelation 22:20).
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