What are the signs of the End Times?

EN English (FR IT PT SP)

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In Matthew 24:3 the disciples ask Jesus to tell them “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” The phrase “the end of the age” seems to refer to the coming of Christ with His church at the end of the period of tribulation. Many of us expect that, before the tribulation starts, Christ will return for His church in what is called “the rapture”. 

Remember, when Jesus says, “No one knows about the day or the hour…” He is referring to this coming at the end of the age, not to the rapture. (More)

The rapture can take place at any time (so we need to be ready now): none of the following signs is necessary to be completed before the rapture can take place; but the presence of the signs does indicate that the time for the rapture is getting closer. And, individually, none of us is guaranteed tomorrow; so we should be ready to meet God at any time (How?)

In this study, we’re just listing the signs revealed in the Bible before Jesus’ coming at the end of the age:

1. Widespread Deception In Matthew 24:4 Jesus warns ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you’. He’s obviously warning that deception will occur. To guard against it we have to be wise, humble and careful to test everything that we know against a careful understanding of what the Bible teaches in context.
2. False Teachers, False Christs Matthew 24:5 tells us that many will announce themselves as the Christ and will deceive many people. It is vital to know that when Christ returns, every eye will see Him, and it will be sudden. The world won’t miss His coming!
3. False Prophets who will deceive many Verse 11 warns us that not only will there be people falsely claiming to be Jesus Christ the Messiah, but there will be others who bring false prophecies. This is likely the spreading of many kinds of doctrine that will appeal to people’s selfish desires.
4. Wars and rumours of wars Another sign to watch out for is an increase in both actual and rumoured global conflict. ‘You will hear of wars and rumours of wars’ (Matthew 24:6). Verse 7 warns that conflict will be between ethnic “ἔθνος”(ethnos) or cultural people groups, not just national states “βασιλείαν” (basileia). This points to a world-wide rise in racism and anti-immigrant xenophobia, not just armed conflict.
5. Famine and Earthquakes Verse 7 also warns us that famine will spread everywhere; and there will be an increase in earthquakes. Luke records, “there will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences [plagues]” (Luke 21:11).
6. Persecution of Believers Just as there have always been wars throughout history, so Christians have faced persecution. Yet the Scriptures predict it’s a sure sign of the end times: “Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed” (Matthew 24:9). Persecution of the ‘tribulation saints’ is very clearly one of the hallmarks of the tribulation period.
7. Betrayal and Hatred Verse 9 is specific about a couple of signs of persecution. First, believers will be ‘handed over’ or betrayed by those who know them. Everyone will ‘do what is right in their own eyes’ for their own well-being, even if the price is betraying those closest to them. Hatred is the second sign, a very intense emotion.
8. Many will abandon the faith Verse 10 here indicates that there will be people who will not endure what they’re experiencing. Thinking it easier to ‘fit in’ to society around them those who had previously identified as Christians will also ‘betray and hate each other’. 
9. Rebellion In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Paul says that the Rebellion occurs. Other English translations call it the Apostasy, or the falling away. It’s more clear in the Greek text than in many modern translations, but this is the rebellion. The Greek word used is Apostasia, which means to depart, defect, and revolt against religious orthodoxy.
10. False prophets will also arise (verse 11) specifically to facilitate this rebellious falling away.
11. An increase in lawlessness or wickedness The Bible warns, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
12. Little love (Verse 12) Hearts will grow cold; love and the desire to help or care for others will decrease.
13. Worldwide preaching of the Gospel The good news is reaching more corners of the earth than ever before. Jesus declared, “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world” (Matthew 24:14). Modern technology makes it possible to share hope with nations far and near. Instead of standing still, believers are called to carry the message onward. However there will be an intense call to respond to the reality of God and His love for the world when the church, those who already accept this, is raptured and most people left behind know someone who has been caught up to heaven. We normally refer to those who will become Christian believers after the rapture as the ‘tribulation saints’.
14. The rebirth of Israel Ezekiel says, “I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone” (Ezekiel 37:21). And Isaiah 66:8 asks, “…Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?” This happened - in a single day - on 14 May 1948.
15. The third temple, the ‘holy place’ Matthew 24:15 quotes Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11 with a reference to “the abomination that causes desolation” standing in the “holy place”. For that to happen, the Jewish (Third) Temple has to be constructed in Jerusalem. 
16. The Man of Lawlessness In the last days, a prominent figure will emerge to deceive many: “The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This event underscores the final showdown between good and evil. Although not a word used in the Book of Revelation, as a shorthand this Man of Lawlessness is often called the Antichrist. 
17. Unequalled distress Matthew 24:21 says that the distress felt by people in the world at this time of tribulation will be unprecedented, and never repeated again.
18. False messiahs & prophets performing signs Matthew 24:24 Do you see a theme here? In Matthew 24 Jesus consistently warns about the risks of deception and the reports of people falsely claiming to be either a messiah or a prophet.
19. Signs in the Heavens The Bible points to cosmic phenomena as indicators of a climax in human history: “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars” (Luke 21:25).“Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Matthew 24:29). The universe itself bears witness to coming changes.
20. Rapid increase of knowledge From instant global communication to breakthroughs in scientific fields, knowledge will be advancing at great speed. Daniel foretold, “Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase” (Daniel 12:4).
21. The coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:27) will be as visible and unmistakable as lightning that comes from the east but is visible in the west.

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