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Twelve Signs Jesus Said to Anticipate in the Last Days
Audio of this blog @https://youtu.be/hqmh71w767w
Unveiling the Signs of the Times
A. The world is changing rapidly, and so are the signs of the times that God has revealed in His Word.
These signs are not mere trivia, but vital clues to understand God’s plan and purpose for history and humanity.
Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of discerning the signs of the times, and warned those who ignored or misunderstood them (Mt. 16:1-4; 24:32-44; Lk. 19:41-44; 21:34-36).
He also gave us many specific and general indicators of His second coming, which we need to watch and pray for.
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Deception by False Christs/Prophets (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 23-26; Lk. 21:8)
Many will come claiming to be the Messiah, deceiving even the elect.
Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-26 (NKJV)
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many...
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it."
10 "Then He said to them, 'Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.'"
b.For example, David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians, claimed to be the final prophet and the Lamb of God. He and his followers died in a standoff with federal agents in 1993.
c.The Jim Jones massacre in Guyana was one of the worst mass killings in American history. More than 900 people died in the tragedy, which occurred on November 18, 1978.
Most of them were members of an American cult called the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, who claimed to be a messiah and a socialist leader.
Jones ordered his followers to drink a poison-laced punch, while some were forced to do so at gunpoint. The massacre took place at Jonestown, a remote settlement in the Guyanese jungle where Jones had moved his congregation in 1977.
Ethnic Conflict (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:10)
Nations and ethnic groups will engage in conflicts, leading to wars and violence.
Matthew 24:7 (NKJV)
7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places."
Luke 21:10 (NKJV)
10 "Then He said to them, 'Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.'"
b.For example, the Rwandan genocide in 1994 was a mass slaughter of the Tutsi ethnic group by the Hutu majority, resulting in an estimated 800,000 deaths.
World conflicts https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch
Economic Warfare (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:10)
Kingdoms and powers will clash for resources, causing political and economic turmoil.
Matthew 24:7 (NKJV)
7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places."
Luke 21:10 (NKJV)
10 "Then He said to them, 'Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.'"
b.For example, the trade war between the United States and China in 2018-2020 involved tariffs, sanctions, and restrictions on various goods and services, affecting the global economy and international relations.
Famines (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11)
Lack of food and water will lead to hunger and scarcity in various places.
Matthew 24:7 (NKJV)
7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places."
Luke 21:11 (NKJV)
11 "And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."
b.For example, the famine in Yemen in 2016-2020 was caused by the ongoing civil war, blockade, and humanitarian crisis, affecting millions of people and leading to widespread malnutrition and starvation.
Pestilences (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11)
Outbreaks of diseases and plagues will affect both humans and animals.
Matthew 24:7 (NKJV)
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Luke 21:11 (NKJV)
11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
b.Pestilences: Some people may be affected by diseases and plagues that spread among humans and animals.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019-2021 was a global outbreak of a novel coronavirus that infected over 200 million people and killed over 4 million people worldwide.
Earthquakes (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11)
Seismic activity and natural disasters will cause damage and destruction.
Matthew 24:7 (NKJV)
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Luke 21:11 (NKJV)
11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
b.Earthquakes: Some people may experience damage and destruction due to seismic activity and natural disasters.
For example, the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 was a magnitude 7.0 quake that devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince and killed over 200,000 people.
In The Virgin Islands we have had our share too
Hurricanes Irma and Maria were two powerful storms that hit the U.S. Virgin Islands in September 2017, causing widespread damage and destruction.
Hurricane Irma struck first on September 6, 2017, as a Category 5 storm with winds of up to 185 mph.
It devastated much of St. Thomas and St. John, leaving many residents without power, water, or communication.
Hurricane Maria followed on September 20, 2017, as a Category 4 storm with winds of up to 155 mph. It impacted St. Croix, which had been a base of operations for first responders after Irma, as well as St. Thomas and St. John again. Maria brought more rain, flooding, and landslides to the already battered islands12.
The hurricanes caused significant damage to the infrastructure, economy, and environment of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
According to FEMA, more than 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed by the storms3.
The power grid was severely damaged, leaving many areas without electricity for months. The water system was also disrupted, affecting the availability and quality of drinking water. The tourism industry, which is a major source of income for the islands, was severely affected by the loss of hotels, restaurants, and attractions
The hurricanes displaced many people from their homes and communities. According to FEMA, more than 18,000 households registered for disaster assistance in the U.S. Virgin Islands after the storms.
Saint Thomas Island, U.S. had 5 earthquakes in the past 7 days, 22 earthquakes in the past 30 days, and 388 earthquakes in the past 365 days.
2. The largest earthquake in Saint Thomas Island, U.S. Virgin Islands this year was a 4.6 magnitude quake that occurred on January 15, 2023 near Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Earthquake tracking: https://earthquaketrack.com/p/u-s-virgin-islands/saint-thomas-island/recent
Hatred of Believers (Mt. 24:9; Lk. 21:12-19)
Christians will face persecution, hatred, and even death for their faith.
Matthew 24:9 (NKJV)
9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
Luke 21:12-19 (NKJV)
12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.
13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
17 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.
18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
19 By your patience possess your souls.
Hatred of Believers: Some people may face persecution, hatred, and even death for their faith in Jesus Christ. For example, the persecution of Christians in North Korea is one of the most severe in the world, where believers are arrested, tortured, imprisoned, or executed for their religion.
Relational Breakdown (Mt. 24:10-12)
Offense, betrayal, and hatred will increase due to lawlessness and sin.
Matthew 24:10-12 (NKJV)
10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
b.Relational Breakdown: Some people may be offended, betrayed, or hated by their family members, friends, or neighbors due to lawlessness and sin.
For example, the breakdown of marriages and families is a common problem in many societies, where divorce rates are high and children are neglected or abused.
Marital status https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/marital-status/
Lawlessness (Mt. 24:12)
Rebellion and sin will abound, leading to moral decay and chaos.
12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
b.Lawlessness: Some people may rebel against God’s laws and moral standards, leading to sin and chaos.
For example, the rise of crime and violence is a sign of lawlessness in many communities, where murder, rape, robbery, human trafficking, human slavery and other offenses are rampant.
Fearful Sights (Lk. 21:11)
Terrifying events and signs from heaven will cause fear and panic.
Luke 21:11 (NKJV)
11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
b.One possible example of a fearful sight and a great sign from heaven that could cause fear and panic is a comet or an asteroid that appears in the sky and threatens to collide with the earth. Such an event could be seen as a sign of God’s judgment or wrath, or as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Great Signs in the Sky (Lk. 21:25-26; Mt. 24:29)
Cosmic disturbances will affect celestial bodies, causing darkness and confusion.
Luke 21:25-26 (NKJV)
25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken."
Matthew 24:29 (NKJV)
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."
Disturbances in the sea: There will be roaring of the sea and the waves, causing floods and tsunamis (Lk. 21:25).
b.Fearful Sights: Some people may witness terrifying events and signs from heaven that cause fear and panic.
For example, the asteroid impact in Russia in 2013 was a rare phenomenon that created a bright fireball and a powerful shockwave that injured over 1,000 people and damaged thousands of buildings.
Disturbances in the Sea (Lk. 21:25)
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
It killed over 230,000 people in 14 countries and affected millions more. It was one of the deadliest and most destructive natural disasters in recorded history2
The 2011 Tohoku tsunami, which was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan.
It devastated the northeastern region of Japan, killing over 15,000 people and causing a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. It also generated waves that reached as far as Hawaii, California, and Chile…
Roaring seas and waves will result in floods and tsunamis.
Luke 21:25 (NKJV)
25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring."
b.Great Signs in the Sky: Some people may see cosmic disturbances that affect celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, stars, or planets.
For example, the solar eclipse in 2017 was a total eclipse that crossed the United States from coast to coast, creating a spectacular sight for millions of viewers.
Conclusion: Awakening to the Signs of the Times
A Call to Awareness: In our bustling world, it's easy to overlook the signs of the times. However, we cannot ignore the urgency of these messages from Scripture.
Unveiling Prophecy: These signs weren't hidden; they were proclaimed by Jesus Himself. From false claims of Messiahship to global disturbances, Jesus left us a roadmap.
An Intricate Tapestry: These twelve signs interweave, forming a larger picture of the last days. They're not isolated events but pieces of a puzzle meant to be understood together.
Present-Day Revelation: As we witness deception, conflicts, and disasters around us, we are experiencing the birth pangs of the end times.
A Moment of Clarity: Our world is not spiraling into chaos without reason; rather, it is aligning with the prophetic puzzle outlined in Scripture.
A Wake-Up Call: The signs are not meant to induce fear but to awaken our spiritual senses, reminding us that the time is drawing near.
A Divine Reminder: Hatred against believers, moral decay, and cosmic disturbances don't signal the end; they usher in a new era of Christ's reign.
Preparation is Key: We're called to be vigilant and prepared, knowing that Christ's return might happen when we least expect it.
A Faithful Stewardship: We're entrusted with a message—the gospel of the kingdom—that must be shared with the world before the culmination of all things.
An Active Hope: Our hope isn't passive; it's expectant and vibrant. As we see these signs manifest, we are reminded that we are on the cusp of an unparalleled revelation.
A Testimony to God's Plan: The signs speak of God's sovereignty. Rather than discouragement, we find hope in the unfolding of His redemptive story.
A Glorious Expectation: In a world uncertain, we hold fast to the glorious expectation of Christ's return, where every sign finds its resolution in the coming of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Embrace these signs as windows into a divine narrative, awakening our senses to the reality of God's plan. Let them not paralyze you in fear, but empower you with hope, anticipation, and a renewed fervor to share the message of redemption. We are living in a unique chapter of history—an invitation to anchor our faith in the promise of Christ's imminent return.
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