Biblical Prophesies in Review: Is the End of the Age Imminent?

While leaving the temple the disciples asked Jesus, "what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age (Matthew 24:3)?" There have been many speculations over the years concerning this topic, but we are in a different time today than at any other time. Many movies are coming out in our day portraying the end. I think it is because people are sensing that something is about to take place. We can't know when the end will be exactly, but we can tell when it is near. Let me share a few things that reveal the end could be imminent.

Israel becoming a nation once again. God told Israel that he would scatter them as a result of their rebellion. We know that they lived in various places all over the world until 1948 when they became a nation again. Since that time the Jews have headed back to Israel. In Ezekiel 37 and Matthew 24: 32-35 Israel is referred to as a fig tree (fig trees in scripture usually symbolized Israel), and Jesus declares that "when you see these things take place" (their becoming a nation again), that generation would not pass away until all things were fulfilled.

Deception. The proliferation of cults is a sign of the nearness of the coming of Christ. Jesus, Paul, and John emphasized this (Matthew 24:4-5 & 10-11; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 1 John 2:18). John said there would be many anti-Christs, Paul declared that there would be a falling away from the faith, and Jesus said that many would come in His name claiming that they were actually the Christ. Now I don't know about you but I haven't heard of many actually saying they were Christ, but I have heard plenty allude to the fact that they were the sent or anointed one. You see, Christ means anointed and/or sent one. We have people in other religions indicating they are the chosen, as well as those in the Christian faith boasting about being anointed. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of times when I'm preaching that I since God's anointing and may at times say that I do. On the other hand, when your anointed by God you don't have to go around telling everyone you are. I hear people being introduced as God's man for the hour, God's anointed, etc all of the time. Beware!

Natural disasters (Mathew 24:7-8). Natural disasters have come at us in full force in recent days. We have had Katrina, tsunamis, major earth quakes, and plagues such as the bird flu and AIDS. Just this week the staph superbug was all over the news with claims that if we could not get it under control it could potentially kill more people than AIDS.

Wars (Mathew 24:7a). We have had 9/11, the Gulf war, Iraq, and the threat of nuclear strikes from Iran. It is amazing to me that thousands of years ago God describes perfectly the effects of nuclear disaster. In Zechariah 14 verse one he begins by declaring the day of the Lord is coming, and in verse 12 he says that "their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths." Wow! Nothing could describe the effects of a nuclear holocaust better than that and it was written between two to three thousand years ago.

Speed of travel. During bible times the fastest mode of travel was by horse back. Now people are traveling at high rates of speed every day by automobiles, airplanes, and rockets into outer space. Cars alone would have blown people away just a little over a hundred years ago, yet God foretold traveling at high rates of speed over two thousand years ago (Daniel 12:4).

The explosion of knowledge. With the Internet and other technological advancements knowledge is increasing on a daily basis (Daniel 12:4).

Scoffers. Peter said that in the last days there would be scoffers saying where is the sign of His coming (2 Peter 3:3-5)? I have spent some time on Yahoo Answers lately and it's amazing how many people mock the things of God and especially the end times.

International (satellite) television. In Revelations 11, John describes the two witnesses of the last days that are given power similar to of Moses and Elijah to display signs, wonders and miracles. At the end of their time of prophesying to the world, the Anti-Christ has them killed and their dead bodies lay in the streets three and a half days with the whole world watching. They not only watched, but rejoiced over their death and exchanged gifts to one another in celebration. At the end of three and a half days they stood to their feet and ascended in a cloud out of everyone's site "and their enemies saw them" (Revelation 11:12). At the time John penned this it would have been impossible for the entire world to view this event. Today it is common via satellite television.

The intensity of spiritual conflict and warfare. The bible says that in the end the devil will come down to earth having great wrath knowing that his time is short (Revelation 12:12). During this time there will be an increase of conflict in the lives of the believer like never before in history. The battle for the believer is more intense now than ever. My family and I have gone through more trials in recent days than I ever thought possible. The important thing is that we continue to praise God in the midst of it. These signs signal that Jesus will return soon to give us the ultimate victory. Hang in there and don't by any means give up "for he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13).