Are We Living in the End of Times?
The answers to the question of when will the world end and how is definitely something that everyone would like to know. Are we living in the end times? Are we the terminal generation? Does the Bible have some answers for us?
Yes, it does. The Scriptures are not silent; God tells us when, how, and where the world as we know it will end.
The Bible gives us at least 7 prophetic signs that we are the generation that will see the coming of the Lord Jesus in the clouds of glory.
1. The Rebirth of the Nation of Israel.
Every major prophet in the Old Testament testified that God would bring the Jews out of their Gentile graves (Gentile nations) and bring them back to Israel before the coming of the Lord. This was fulfilled on May 14, 1948.
Israel literally became a nation again in one day (Isaiah 66:8) when the British Government decided to endorse the establishment of a Jewish home in Palestine after discussions within the cabinet and consultations with Jewish leaders. This is known as the Balfour Declaration.
The rebirth of the nation of Israel in one day is not a historical accident. It is the hand of God controlling the affairs of men just as the prophets of Israel said He would.
2. Jerusalem will Once again be the Capital of the Nation of Israel.
The Jews did not control the Holy City from 70 AD when the Romans under Emperor Titus attacked the city and destroyed the temple (as Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:1-2) until the Six-Day War of 1967.
After winning the Six-Day War against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, Israel took control of Jerusalem once again. As a result, they were able to capture the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the West Bank (formerly known as Judea & Samaria).
For the first time, Jerusalem is under the control of the Jewish people in two thousand years. God has promised to save His people from all corners of the earth and He specifically told them that they will again dwell in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:7-8).
Related Article: Jerusalem is the Eternal Capital of Israel
Jesus is not coming to London, New York, Rome or Palestine. Zechariah 14:4 & Acts 1:9-12 tell us clearly that Jesus will return to Jerusalem in glory. Also, the final battle will center on Jerusalem and Jesus will reign from Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom.
3. The Jews Will be Back in Their Land.
The Jews had been scattered over the earth and lived in various parts of the world, mostly in Europe, since their dispersion in 70 AD. And for almost 20 centuries the children of Israel have not lived in their homeland simply because one did not exist.
But after a time of living in all the countries in the world, the Jews would begin to return to their land in fulfillment of the promise of God to bring them back. Isaiah Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied that God will bring the Jews from all corners of the earth back to their land (Isaiah 43:5-6; Jeremiah 16:14-15, 23:7-8 & Ezekiel 37: 11-13).
After thousands of years, the Jews were re-gathered into their homeland. The Jews from the north country (Russia) have returned to Israel by the tens of thousands as have Jewish people from around the globe. We have seen them on television newscasts disembarking from planes in Tel Aviv.
We have read it in every form of print media. But we read it first in the Bible. It is another sign that we are living in the last days.
Another miracle was the restoring of a pure language when in the 19th century, a Zionist movement brought about the revival of Hebrew as a spoken language. In 1948, Hebrew became the official tongue of the state of Israel
4. Knowledge Shall Increase.
An important sign confirming that we are the terminal generation is recorded in Daniel 12:4, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
The literal translation of this Scripture indicates that the terminal generation will experience a knowledge explosion. We are definitely that generation.
From the Garden of Eden until A.D. 1900 men walked or rode horses just as King David and Julius Caesar. In the span of a few years, mankind invented the automobile, the jet plane, and the space shuttle.
Medically we have experienced such a knowledge explosion that medical science has had to redefine death. Men can be kept alive indefinitely by machines and miracle drugs.
An increase in knowledge is also evidenced by the information superhighway. You can sit in the quiet of your own home and drown yourself in information and knowledge from the internet.
5. Days of Deception.
Jesus warned that the number 1 problem on the earth in the last days would be deception.
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” – Matthew 24:4-5, 24
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the founder of the cult called The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name based in Davao City, Philippines, is known for his claim of being the Appointed Son of God as well as being the owner of the universe.
Secular humanism is a deception. New Age theories and philosophies are deceptions. Environmental gurus who teach that the earth is but the breast of “mother goddess” are doling out deception.
Satanism and the occult are deceptions. The apostate church, which has a form of godliness, but denies the power of God, is practicing deception (2 Timothy 3:5). The fact that deceptions abound tells us that we are in living in the end of times.
6. There will be Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes.
The United States of America has the ability to feed the world. Yet, they pay their farmers not to grow certain crops lest they glut the market and drive prices down.
And every night on television, we see starving children with bloated bellies, bulging eyes, and bare ribs. Why? Jesus said that in the last days, there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places, which are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:7-8).
God uses earthquakes to communicate with the spiritually deaf. The Bible records at least thirty-three instances where God used an earthquake to get man’s attention.
The earth quaked at Mount Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:18). God used an earthquake in Jerusalem at the Crucifixion to split the veil of the temple from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51). God used an earthquake at the resurrection to roll the stone from the borrowed tomb – not to let Jesus out but to let us in (Matthew 28:2).
Just last month (June 2019) about 20 earthquakes have been reported in different parts of the world such as the Philippines, India, Japan, Chile, New Zealand, Alaska, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
The constant trembling of the earth is God’s voice speaking through nature reminding us that we are the terminal generation.
7. As in the Days of Noah.
Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:36-37).
What characteristics marked the days of Noah? Genesis 6:5 tells us that man’s wickedness on the earth was very great and that “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
If you open your morning papers or watch the news on TV and the internet, you’ll lose your appetite because of the murders, rapes, kidnapping, assaults, child abuse, spouse abuse, government corruption, pornography, adultery, homosexuality, fornication and drug addiction that are happening.
This generation is as Noah’s generation with the thoughts of its heart continuously evil. This is how we know we are living in the end of times.
Closing Thoughts
These 7 prophetic signs that have already taken place and we see happening right before our very eyes are all leading up to the soon return of Christ. What are we supposed to do? “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28)
We must also be more watchful and prayerful (Luke 21:36). Are we watching and praying as we are told? More importantly, are we in Christ?
This is the question that we must answer individually. Am I really a part of the body of Christ which makes me a candidate to escape all these things that are about to take place? Do I have a redemptive covenant with God through His Son Jesus Christ?
Do not be deceived! It’s not just merely saying a simple prayer and coming to Church on Sundays or when it’s convenient for you. Because if you do not love to fellowship with God now, you’re not going to want to spend eternity with Him.
If you do not enjoy worshiping Jesus for an hour, you’re not going to enjoy worshiping Him for eternity.
Reference: NKJV Prophecy Study Bible (Top 20 Questions)
Recommended Resource: The Book of Signs: 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse by Dr. David Jeremiah
One of the world’s most beloved Bible teachers offers a definitive collection of resources on biblical prophecy, the end times, and the apocalypse.
“The end times.” “The apocalypse.” “The day of judgment.”
Terms such as these are both fascinating and frightening for any student of God’s Word. They point to key questions people have wrestled with for centuries, including:
- What does the Bible tell us about the future?
- How much can we understand about biblical prophecy and its application in our lives?
- What signs and signals will precede the end of everything as we know it?
- Which of those signs and signals has already come to pass, which are we experiencing now, and which are still to come?
In this landmark collection, bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah offers answers to these questions and much more. Drawing from decades of experience as one of the world’s most respected Bible teachers, Dr. Jeremiah has updated content from previously published works in addition to writing new material on a wide variety of subjects.
The result is a truly epic and authoritative guide to biblical prophecy—a must-have resource for Christians seeking to navigate the uncertainties of the present and embrace God’s promises for the future.
The result is a truly epic and authoritative guide to biblical prophecy—a must-have resource for Christians seeking to navigate the uncertainties of the present and embrace God’s promises for the future.
2 Replies to “Are We Living in the End of Times?”
Modern Israel is the deception of Satan!
Hello Bert,
First of all, I wanna thank you for taking the time to read the article. Oh, I hope you did because I gave all the reference Scriptures showing how God has faithfully fulfilled and still is fulfilling His promises to the nation of Israel.
Clearly, we are now living in the end of times; we’re in the very last days anticipating the soon return of Christ and the fulfillment of the remaining prophecies. And no matter how some people try to deny it, the nation of Israel plays a major role.
In fact, the nation of Israel is at the very center of everything. In other words, whatever happens to Israel will affect the world.
I would really appreciate it if you could elaborate on what you said that modern-day Israel is the deception of Satan.
Blessings!