From time to time I write about my conviction that Jesus Christ will return soon, and without setting dates I personally see his return occurring within decades, not centuries or millennia. If I’m wrong, I’ll apologise later. You can ignore or mock, or you can carefully consider the possibilities. Here’s a sketchy summary of thoughts on the matter. I’ve written longer articles on each subject, with Biblical references, in past posts.
ISRAEL By far the most significant sign of our times is the existence and predicament of the modern state of Israel. The fact that so much hatred and bias as we see today is focused on one tiny nation – the nation which birthed Jesus Christ, attempting to stay alive and strong – is in itself very telling. In fact, the increasing hostility especially from people who don’t know what they’re talking about is a daily reminder of the nearness of the Time. The hatred follows Israel’s miraculous re-creation and regathering over the past several decades, and which continues to this day. This is a phenomenon in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies such as these:
“After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety” (Ezekiel 38:8).
“In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat
There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land” (Joel 3:1-2).
Scripture tells us that at the culmination of human government the nations of the world will gather against Israel. Israel already has many enemies, but when very left-leaning politicians and globalists regain power in the United States America will likely continue its slide into antisemitism and globalism. Remarkably, there’s already a movement of antisemitism even on the right of politics. It seems that Europe is there already, waiting for Trump to leave office. In any case, they will not get their way without God’s say-so. When they do eventually move against Israel it will be into a trap set by God Himself. Israel is not a righteous nation by any means, but God always fulfills His promises. Their spiritual renewal, according to Ezekiel and Zechariah, occurs when He steps into our world again to oppose their enemies.
THE BEAST. The Biblical end-times “beast” takes two forms: a man and an empire. This future world power has already been named by modern day prophecy “experts” as the European Union, even though Revelation makes clear that the Beast will hold power for only three and a half years. Having said that, the EU is likely the preliminary organization to fulfill Revelation. However, these experts refuse to see what seems obvious to me, which is that America will be a part of what they now call “the revived Roman Empire”. Prophecies in Daniel clearly suggest that Rome would continue from its inception and wouldn’t need “reviving”. The ultimate extension of Rome in our time is the United States. Trump, I believe, was sent by God to postpone the movement of America into an Islamised globalist power. Wishing him away is wishing for the Tribulation, in my view. Perhaps his successor will uphold his stand for a time. I hope so.
IRON AND CLAY. There’s a prophecy in Daniel of an image representing the empires of humanity, running chronologically from the head to the feet. The feet consist of iron mingled with clay – the iron representing the remnants of Rome – and as the prophecy tells us, this mingling of un-mixable materials speaks loudly that the culture is doomed to be without real unity. Islam and its law is totally incompatible with Western principles of freedom, but some of our leaders are determined to try to shove it into our Western way of life anyway. Trump has resisted it. The image not only aptly describes our present world but tells us that we are currently in the “feet” of the image, at the end of human rule over the world, immediately before our God calls a halt to it all.
GODLESSNESS. The moral decline of the West is like a neon sign of warning to anyone looking for a sign. Obsession with sexuality and the abandonment of relational commitment have all but destroyed the building blocks of our society. The fact that multitudes of men and women have also abandoned natural affection for the opposite sex and have even rejected the gender they were born with is without precedence in human history. Yes, we’ve always had perversion, but not on this scale, and not with the blessing of entire nations, their judges and governments. Such things are bringing us close to the judgment of God. One of the manifestations of that judgment which precedes more severe action, is God handing a nation and a culture over to its own twisted and destructive desires. The old saying, “Be careful what you wish for” applies here.
END TIMES RELIGION. The spiritual and political conditions which Revelation tells us will prevail for three and a half years are being realized now. In this time two religions will be opposed and attacked, according to Revelation: Christianity and Judaism. One therefore should ask where the other of the three largest world religions is in the story. It’s there quite clearly without needing to be named. Scriptures relating to the Antichrist speak of him exalting himself above all gods, but he could easily stand as the lone representative of the only “true” god.
REVIVAL OR WINEPRESS. Charismatics regularly prophesy national and global revivals. There may indeed be local and even national revivals, and it’s good to pray for them, but Scripture is clear that there will be a general falling away from the faith at the commencement of end-times events, not revival. In fact, Jesus said, “When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” What a stark difference then, between what the modern-day “prophets” tell us and the Biblical truth. This leads me to the next highly important point.
DECEPTION. When asked about end times events Jesus stressed that the greatest sign of his coming would be deception, and most particularly deception dressed up as God’s truth: he warned of false prophets and false teachers, and even false Christs. We could add to this the deception of evolution, which has provided an excuse for billions not to seek the Lord. Another huge potential for deception I see is in the UFO or UAP issue. If “aliens” landed or talked to your government or news media, would you believe what they say or that they somehow disprove God? If your heart is not with Jesus and his words, you are ripe for any form of deception present and future. “Many” will fall for the prevalent lies going around, said Jesus. Paul similarly said that one of the two marks of end times would be deception. The only way to escape deception is to know the Word of God – the Bible – and to believe it rather than what you hear and see elsewhere.
Exactly how that end-times deception will be manifested is an interesting study. It clearly includes multiculturalism and the idea that “all religions lead to the same God”, but one of the telling things Jesus said was this: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23). The greatest deception may prove to be inside the church walls.
CONTROL. Finally, the influence and potential of modern technology meets requirements of prophecies in Revelation regarding global finance and control. Governments now have the power and the will to observe, control and direct or even deny any financial transaction you make. They can watch what you do, what you say, and how you think. They can and do control the information which reaches your ears and eyes, though this has been minimised for a short time thanks to Trump’s presidency. They can cancel you if you choose to do, say or think things they don’t like. These conditions have already existed in some parts of the world for many years, and currently the European Union is increasingly imposing them on its own citizens. Revelation speaks of the world’s population being able to “see” and react to events occurring in Jerusalem within days, not months and years as it would have been in the first century. This speaks of twenty-first century technology.
Freedom is an illusion, and freedom of speech is being trampled upon in Western nations. Power is being centralized (apart from Trump’s efforts and those of a few other brave souls) and the time will come when one central authority and one man above it all will dictate to world citizens what they will do say and think, and who they will worship. He will have a willingly compliant world – wide following, aided by adoring and obedient media corporations. The movement of political correctness, wokeness or whatever it will be called at that time will oppose one thing: the Biblical God. Remarkably, Armageddon is not ultimately just an attack on the tiny nation of Israel and all it stands for but an attempt to prevent the return of Jesus Christ. This will prove as successful as telling the tide not to come in. Revelation 19 tells us of Christ’s intervention on the earth, and his defeat of the enemies of God:
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns” (Revelation 19:11-12).
“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured… “The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse” (Revelation 19:19-21).
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 