End-Times Prophecies Are Coming to Pass Right before Our Eyes

Vivid Christianity
Teaching Christians how to live a "vivid" Christian life.

by Dave Root, VividChristianity.com, last modified on 08/02/2024.

Introduction

This article describes a number of very specific signs of the times which indicate that end-times prophecies are coming to pass at an unprecedented rate, right in front of our eyes.

Bit by bit, step by step, the world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. This means that Jesus is returning a lot sooner than we might realize. (To get an idea of how close we might be to Jesus' return, see the intended impact of my book.)

Update on 07/06/2024: If everything at my website (VividChristianity.com) says what God wants it to say then He will confirm that for you by doing a miracle (if you're a Christian). When you see the miracle, it means that He wants you to believe everything in all of the articles at my website (including this article) and in my book. See my home page for the details.

What Will Be the Sign of the End of the Age?

In Matthew 24:3-8 (below), the disciples asked Jesus what will be the one specific sign of His return and of the end of history as we know it. Jesus' reply essentially takes up all of Matthew 24 and 25 (all of which is described in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Eight), and it provides a lot of information concerning things to come. He began His answer by saying that there will be wars and rumors of wars, but He said that these have no bearing on the end of the age:

"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."" (Matthew 24:3-8)

In the above passage, Jesus gave us the one single event that will mark the beginning of the end of history as we know it, and He said that the end of the age will be like when a woman is in labor because when her labor pains begin then she knows that the baby is on its way, about to be born.

First He said that there will be false messiahs and wars, but He said that these things will continue to happen throughout history because they are not signs of the end of the age. Then He gave us the one significant event that will mark the beginning of the birth pains: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," and He added that there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these together are the beginning of the "birth pains," the beginning of the end of history as we know it.

This is how Jesus' reply is recorded in Luke's Gospel:

""When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven."" (Luke 21:9-11)

In the above passage, notice how the statement, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," is set apart from Jesus' previous statement about wars and revolutions. Luke has inserted the phrase, "Then he said to them," as a break between these two statements, indicating a separation between two thoughts. The statement, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom," is not merely a continuation of Jesus' comment about wars and revolutions, but instead it's a separate thought with a separate meaning.

In order to understand an idiom or an expression, it's important to take into account not only the context, but also the culture and the time period in which that idiom is being used. Jesus and the first disciples were Jews who lived in the Middle East in the first century, and Jesus used the Jewish idiom, "Nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom." In those days, that was a form of expression that described a total conflict in the area being described:

"The key factor then is to find out the meaning of the idiom, "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." This idiom, taken in the Jewish context of the day when it was spoken, points to a total conflict of the area in view." (The Footsteps of the Messiah, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, p.63)

For example, this same form of expression is used in Isaiah 19:2 to describe a total conflict all over Egypt:

"I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian - brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom." (Isaiah 19:2)

This doesn't mean that every Egyptian or every city or every kingdom in that area was involved in the conflict, but it tells us the scope of the conflict.

The same form of expression is used in 2 Chronicles 15:5-6 to describe a total conflict all over "the lands" (the Middle East):

"And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands. And they were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city" (2 Chronicles 15:5-6 ASV)

Again, this doesn't mean that every person or every city or every nation in that area was involved in the conflict, but it tells us the scope of the conflict.

This was a Jewish form of expression that described a total conflict in the area being discussed, whether it was a city or a nation or a region. Jesus used that same idiom, and then He put it into context for us, giving us the scope of the conflict. Notice that as Jesus replied to the disciples' questions in Matthew 24 and 25, He made repeated references to "the whole world" and to "all nations," as in Matthew 24:14:

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

Recall that in Matthew 24:3-8, the disciples had asked Jesus what will be the one specific sign that the end of the age has begun. Jesus said that there will always be wars and revolutions, but they are not the sign of the end. Then He said that there will be a specific type of war, and this war will be the one sign to watch for to know that the end of the age has begun. Based on the first-century Jewish idiom that Jesus used, and based on the context that He gave us for this idiom, that specific type of war is a world war, which will be accompanied by earthquakes, pestilence, and famine (Matthew 24:3-8, Luke 21:9-11). Again, this doesn't mean that every person or every country in the world will be involved in the conflict, but it tells us the scope of the conflict.

So Jesus said that when a world war takes place, accompanied by earthquakes, pestilence, and famine, this will be the specific sign which tells us that the end of history has begun.

In 1914-1918, the first-ever world war took place, and it was accompanied by major earthquakes, pestilence, and famine, just as Jesus had prophesied.

Many historians agree that World War II was essentially a continuation of World War I (see for example The Second World War

and World War II 1939-1945

). Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia describes a number of treaty disputes and territorial wars that broke out after WWI as various countries tried to benefit from the unstable world situation. This continued until Hitler came into power and began aggressive acts that led up to the invasion of Poland and the beginning of WWII. So WWII was really a continuation of the disputes that were left unsettled by WWI, according to historians.

After WWI, a U.S. Senator gave a speech in which he said:

"The late war cost seven million lives...It has destroyed hundreds of towns...it has brought in its train...pestilence and famine." (from the American Library of Congress ).

In between these world wars there was a pestilence that killed between 20 and 40 million people worldwide in 1918-1919 (see The Influenza Pandemic of 1918

), and there were almost two dozen famines throughout the world during the period of WWI and WWII (see List of famines - 20th Century

), and there were 293 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher worldwide between 1914 and 1946 (see National Geophysical Data Center - Search Earthquake Events

), and so on.

What this all boils down to is that beginning in 1914 we had the first-ever world war, which was accompanied by famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, just as Jesus had prophesied. Jesus said that this will be the one specific sign to watch for that will signal the end of history as we know it.

When a woman goes into labor, it might last a few minutes, or several hours, or even longer. That's the human time frame for labor. In God's time frame, we really don't know how long the "birth pains" (as Jesus called them) will last.

But the "birth pains" have begun. We're in "labor" right now. We're in the season of Jesus' return, and we've been in this season since about 1914. History as we know it is drawing to a close. Jesus will return for us at the end of the age (see my series called The Rapture of the Church), and therefore He is returning soon, possibly before you finish reading this article. Are you ready?

More Signs of the Times

Jesus said that even though we don't know when He will return to the earth, we can recognize the season of His return:

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near."" (Luke 21:27-31)

In the above passage, Jesus said that it will be possible to recognize the season of the Second Coming. In addition, He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees because they couldn't interpret the signs of their times:

"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."" (Matthew 16:1-3)

It's important for us to interpret the signs of our times because many of the events described in the book of Revelation and in other prophetic passages have already happened in the last half of the twentieth century or else they are well underway. Here are some examples:

Sign #1 of 23

Around 930 BC the nation of Israel split into two. The ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel, and the two southern tribes formed the kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel was invaded around 722 BC by the Assyrians, who destroyed the nation and carried the 10 tribes into captivity. In 586 BC, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom of Judah, and they destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the First Temple, and they carried most of the remaining Jews into exile. Later, many Jews returned and rebuilt the temple, but multitudes of Jews remained scattered throughout the nations of the world. In AD 70, the Roman army attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple, and those Jews were scattered among the nations. For example, the book of James was specifically written to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (James 1:1), and Acts 2:5-11 says that Jews from every nation under heaven were in Jerusalem for Pentecost. For a timeline of these events, see Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - History: Biblical Times

and Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - History: Second Temple Period - Return to Zion

.

So the Jews have been dispersed throughout the world for thousands of years. After the New Testament was written, for almost 2 millennia there was never again a united Jewish nation of Israel nor a Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

According to Bible prophecy, however, Israel must be re-established as a nation because God said that He will gather the Jews from around the world back to the nation of Israel:

"Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.'" (Ezekiel 37:20-22)

For the past several hundred years (according to prophecy teachers), people who studied Bible prophecy were saying that the absolute surest sign of the soon return of Jesus will be when Israel is re-established as a nation. For hundreds of years, other people scoffed at the idea of Israel ever being re-established as a nation. They said that it will never happen.

In 1948, the nation of Israel was re-established in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy (see Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The War of Independence (1948)

).

The birth pains are continuing. The pieces are falling into place. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described in Bible prophecy.

Sign #2 of 23

A number of passages clearly describe a regathering of Jews from among all of the nations back to Israel in the end-times:

"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered - with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they [those who revolt and rebel against God] will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 20:33-38)

"Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into Jerusalem. As men gather silver, copper, iron, lead and tin into a furnace to melt it with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my wrath and put you inside the city and melt you. I will gather you and I will blow on you with my fiery wrath, and you will be melted inside her. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the LORD have poured out my wrath upon you.'"" (Ezekiel 22:17-22)

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.'" (Ezekiel 36:22-27)

Notice that the above passages describe a regathering of Jews back to the land of Israel in an unrepentant condition, which will take place before the day of the Lord's wrath begins. That phrase, "the day of the Lord's wrath," is one of several specific terms that are used throughout the Old and New Testaments to describe a future seven-year period of time during which God will pour out His wrath onto the earth. That's the time period when the prophecies about the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, and so on, will be fulfilled, and we usually refer to this future seven-year period as "the Tribulation." Sometimes the Old and New Testaments refer to this time period as the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7), the "Tribulation" (Deuteronomy 4:30), the "day of vengeance" (Isaiah 34:8), the "time of distress" (Daniel 12:1), the "day of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 5:2), the "day of the Lord's wrath" (Zephaniah 1:18), the "day of God's wrath" (Romans 2:5), or simply the "day of wrath" (Zephaniah 1:5). These are terms that are often used in the Bible to describe the future seven-year Tribulation period.

So the Jews will be regathered back to Israel before the seven-year Tribulation begins. For numerous details about the Tribulation period, see my series called The Rapture of the Church.

This end-times regathering of Jews back to Israel began during the twentieth century. With the fall of Communism, for example, Russian Jews were finally free to leave the Soviet Union, and multitudes flocked to Israel (as you might recall from the airlifts on the nightly news some years ago). In the area where Israel now exists there were roughly 94,000 Jews in 1914 when WWI began. When Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948 there were roughly 630,000 Jews. In 2022 there are over 7,000,000 Jews in Israel (see Jewish Virtual Library - Population of Israel/Palestine by Religion

, using data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics).

Some Christians don't believe that the modern country of Israel is a fulfillment of end-times prophecy because they believe that the Jews must be repentant before they can be restored back to their land (which will happen after the Second Coming - see my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Four). However, the above passages clearly describe a regathering of Jews back to Israel in an unrepentant condition before God's wrath is poured out onto them. This exactly describes the modern country of Israel because it has not yet turned to Jesus as the Messiah, and God's wrath being poured out onto them is an exact description of what will happen during the seven-year Tribulation as God tries to turn their hearts to His Son. Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians alike should "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).

So the Bible says that before the seven-year Tribulation period begins ("the day of the Lord's wrath"), the Jews from all of the countries where they were scattered will be gathered back to Israel. This doesn't mean that every single Jew will return to Israel, but this end-times regathering is currently in progress, right in front of our eyes, in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy.

The pieces of prophecy are falling into place. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #3 of 23

For thousands of years, the land of Israel has been a burning wasteland, just as Moses prophesied:

"Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it. The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur - nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it." (Deuteronomy 29:22-23)

Centuries after Moses wrote the above passage (according to Bible commentaries), Isaiah prophesied that the desert will bloom again and be fruitful in the end-times:

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." (Isaiah 35:1-10)

"But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer. In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea. In that day - "Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the LORD, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. I am not angry. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me! I would march against them in battle; I would set them all on fire. Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me." In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit." (Isaiah 26:19-27:6)

In the above passages, the context describes things that will happen in the end-times and beyond, and these prophecies tell us that the desert around Israel will rejoice and blossom and burst into bloom in the end-times, and that Israel will fill the world with fruit.

In fulfillment of these end-times prophecies, the parched and burning wastelands of Israel are now blooming, and Israel actually exports hundreds of thousands of tons of fruits and vegetables each year to other countries. For example, here are some quotes from The Jewish Virtual Library (see Agriculture in Israel: Coping with Population Growth

"Today, just under a quarter of the income of Israel's farmers derives from the export of fresh produce, including items such as flowers, avocados, out-of-season vegetables and certain exotic fruits grown for export. In 1996 some 140,000 tons of fruit and vegetables - 14 percent of the entire crop - were sold to factories for processing and export."

"Desert agriculture is already playing an indispensable role in Israel's economy."

"Since the late 1950s, Israel has been sharing its agricultural expertise with scores of countries. MASHAV, the Center for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is active in Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Europe and Latin America; and it is broadening its cooperation programs with a growing number of countries in the Middle East."

"Citrus, the country's oldest export sector, continues to be a leading export product with hundreds of thousands of tons of oranges, pink and white grapefruits, lemons, pomelos and several varieties of easy-peeling tangerines, as well as concentrates, juices and other products, shipped abroad annually."

"Today, most flowers are sold by the individual growers directly to buyers in the flower auctions of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and elsewhere"

"Ornamental plants are a rapidly growing industry. Over $50 million worth of scores of different ornamental plants, either as rooted or un-rooted cuttings, or in pots in various stages of growth, are exported worldwide, but predominantly to Europe."

The parched and burning wastelands of Israel are now budding and blossoming and filling all the world with fruit in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy.

The pieces are falling into place. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #4 of 23

The Lord told Zephaniah that in the end-times, the time when He will pour out His wrath onto the whole world, He will purify the lips of the people:

""Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them - all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder."" (Zephaniah 3:8-9)

According to Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, the word "lips" means "language, lip, speech, talk, words," and the word "peoples" means "a people (as a congregated unit); spec. a tribe (as those of Israel)."

So this prophecy is often taken to mean that the speech (the language) of the people of Israel will be "purified" in the end-times. This is brought out more clearly in the Revised Standard Version:

"Yea, at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord." (Zephaniah 3:9 RSV)

When the Jews were scattered throughout the nations after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Hebrew as a language for daily communication essentially died out by AD 200 (see Revival of the Hebrew Language

at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website). Hebrew was still used for religious purposes, but it became virtually extinct as a daily spoken language.

Around 1877-1878, a man named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda became convinced that the Jews must return to their land and begin to speak their own language. He decided to dedicate his life to reviving the Hebrew language for daily communication, and he coined hundreds of new Hebrew words. His household became the first Hebrew-speaking home established in the area of modern Israel, and his first son became the first modern child to grow up speaking Hebrew (see Eliezer Ben-Yehuda

at the Jewish Virtual Library).

Consider that Old English was spoken from the 5th century to the 11th century (see the Wikipedia entry for Old English

). For example, here's part of the Old English poem "Beowulf" from that Wikipedia article:

Hpaet! pe Gar-Dena in gear-dagum,
beod-cyninga, brym gefrunon,
hu da aebelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceabena breatum,
monegum maegbum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. Syddan aerest peard
feasceaft funden, he baes frofre gebad,
peox under polcnum, peordmyndum bah,
odbaet him aeghpylc bara ymbsittendra
ofer hronrade hyran scolde,
gomban gyldan. paet paes god cyning!

It would be incredibly difficult to revive Old English and to make new words for new technology, and then to convince everyone in America or England to speak Old English as their primary language. Yet Hebrew (which had been extinct as a daily language since around AD 200) became the official language of the Jews around 1921 and of Israel when it was re-established in 1948, and now they're able to read the Old Testament Scriptures in the original language.

The lips (the speech) of the people of Israel have now been purified in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy.

The pieces are all falling into place. We're in the season of Jesus' return, and we're seeing that a number of different end-times prophecies are being fulfilled in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century). Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #5 of 23

According to prophecy, the Jewish temple (which was destroyed in AD 70) will be rebuilt because a number of passages indicate that the Antichrist will desecrate this temple and put an end to the temple sacrifices:

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand - then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Matthew 24:14-16)

"The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (Daniel 9:26-27)

"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him...The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all." (Daniel 11:31-37)

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then...From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days." (Daniel 12:1, 11-12)

According to the above passages, a ruler or a king will someday rise to power, and he will exalt and magnify himself above all other gods until "the time of wrath" is completed. When pastors and Bible teachers talk about this man, they refer to him as "the Antichrist." The above passages tell us that the Antichrist will desecrate the Jewish temple by setting up "an abomination that causes desolation," and that he will exalt himself as a god during "the time of wrath." As we saw in sign #2, "the time of wrath" is the period of time in the future that we usually refer to as the seven-year Tribulation, or "the day of the Lord's wrath."

The above passages tell us that the Antichrist will desecrate the Jewish temple and put an end to the temple sacrifices during the seven-year Tribulation. But the Jewish temple was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago, and it has never been rebuilt. So according to Bible prophecy, the Jewish temple will need to be rebuilt in order for these prophetic end-times events to take place.

Right now, several groups of Jews in Jerusalem are in the process of recreating, to precise scriptural specifications, the temple implements and priestly clothing that will be needed for a fully-functioning, consecrated Third Temple. For example, The Temple Institute has a Photo Gallery

that contains pictures of many of these recreated temple implements and priestly garments.

For the first time since the Second Temple was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago, plans for the Third Temple have been made, and the required ritual implements and priest's clothing have been recreated. Practically all that's left is the actual building of the temple itself. The fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy is underway, right in front of our eyes.

Sign #6 of 23

The Third Temple will need to be built on the holy ground in Jerusalem, where the previous temple stood. But after Israel's War of Independence in 1948, the nation of Jordan gained control of the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall (which is the last remains of the Second Temple).

Israel would need to have control of Jerusalem in order to have any capability of building the Third Temple on holy ground.

In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel took complete control of Jerusalem (see United Jerusalem after the Six Day War

at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website).

The fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the building of the Third Temple is underway, right now. All of these different prophecies are being fulfilled in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century). The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described in the Bible. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #7 of 23

In order to consecrate the Third Temple and the priests, an unblemished red heifer will be required:

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. While he watches, the heifer is to be burned - its hide, flesh, blood and offal. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening. A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They shall be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the aliens living among them."" (Numbers 19:1-10)

In the above passage, God commanded that a red heifer without defect or blemish must be used as part of the purification rites for anyone entering the temple, and from the time of Moses until the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, nine red heifers had been used for these purification rites (see The Tenth Red Heifer

). So even when the Third Temple is built, the purification rites cannot be accomplished without a red heifer. According to rabbinical teaching, no flawless red heifer has ever been born within the land of Israel since the Second Temple was destroyed in AD 70 (see Jews hail birth of red cow as sign to start third temple

).

In August, 1996, a red heifer was born on a farm in Israel. A rabbi said on Israel Radio that "It is written that it is the tenth red heifer that the Messiah will discover, and here we have the tenth heifer" (see Why do a Pentecostal cattle breeder from Mississippi and an Orthodox rabbi from Jerusalem believe that a red heifer can change the world?

).

This red heifer was so significant that it was hailed by religious Jews as a sign from God that they should soon begin building the Third Temple and preparing the way for Messiah's entry into Jerusalem. Jewish activists said that they regard it as their divine mission to build a new temple, and they said, "We have been waiting 2,000 years for a sign from God, and now he has provided us with a red heifer" (see Jews hail birth of red cow as sign to start third temple

). That's how significant this red heifer was to them.

So non-Christian devout Jews have said that God has been providing signs that it's time to build the Third Temple and prepare the way for Messiah. For example, consider this quote:

"In recounting this historical record in his commentary to the Mishna, the great Maimonides ends with the enigmatic statement: "...and the tenth red heifer will be accomplished by the king, the Messiah; may he be revealed speedily, Amen, May it be God's will."
With this amazing statement, Maimonides recounts an ancient tradition - that the tenth red heifer is associated with the Messianic era. Does this perhaps mean that the appearance of a red heifer in these waning end times is an indication, a forerunner of the appearance of the Messiah himself, who will officiate at its preparation?
If there has been no red heifer for the past 2,000 years, perhaps it is because the time was not right; Israel was far from being ready. But now...what could it mean for the times we live in, to have the means for purification so close at hand? With the words of Maimonides in mind, we cannot help but wonder and pray: If there are now red heifers...is ours the era that will need them?" (see The Tenth Red Heifer ).

It's fascinating that not only are Christian prophecy scholars anticipating the soon return of the Messiah, but orthodox Jewish scholars are also anticipating the soon arrival of Messiah. We're living in a very unique period of time.

In January, 1998, when the red heifer was less than two years old, some white hairs were found on her tail and therefore the rabbis declared her to be unfit for the sanctification of the Priesthood (see Red Heifer Declared Impure After White Hairs Found on Tail

).

However, a Mississippi cattle breeder named Clyde Lott (who is also an ordained pastor) has been working with rabbis in Israel to ship five hundred pregnant Red Angus cows, bred in Nebraska, to the Jordan Valley in Israel. They believe that a descendant of one of these Red Angus cows might be fit to be used for the sanctification rites (see Why do a Pentecostal cattle breeder from Mississippi and an Orthodox rabbi from Jerusalem believe that a red heifer can change the world?

).

Update on 05/19/2022: In March, 2022, the Temple Institute posted a Red Heifer Update

which says that it has "greatly expanded its efforts to raise a red heifer in Israel whose ashes can be used to achieve the highest level of biblical purity...More details cannot currently be disclosed for operational reasons. Suffice it to say that the current efforts are international in scope. We hope to be able to share more information in the near future as progress is made."

Update on 11/15/2022: The Temple Institute has posted another Red Heifer Update

which says: "Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality."

Update on 07/19/2023: It appears that Israel might now have an unblemished red heifer for the purification rites for the Third Temple:

"Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria's Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer.
The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood.
"In the coming month, two more heifers will be transported to the town, and a center will open there dedicated to researching the phenomenon. The heifers will be kept in a fenced-off area, and visitors will not be able to touch the animals," said JNS." (Biblically Pure Red Heifer Arrives In Ancient Shiloh, Captivating Visitors And Researchers )

A red heifer is a vital part of a consecrated Jewish temple, and therefore a red heifer will be in the news again. Keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this unfold in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy.

Update on 09/12/2023: I originally wrote the above paragraph in 2001, and lately news articles have been popping up online about the red heifer. Here are some from the past few months:

Update on 04/17/2024: As I mentioned earlier, no flawless red heifer has ever been found since the Second Temple was destroyed in AD 70. In November, 2023, several red heifers were certified as being flawless and fit for the purification rites for the Third Temple according to the biblical requirements. The Jewish Rabbis' plan is to sacrifice a red heifer either just before Pesach (Passover) on April 22, 2024, or 50 days later on Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks, Pentecost):

Red Heifers Research Center (watch the "Red Heifer Update 2024" video)
When will the red heifer be sacrificed?
Prophetic Anticipation Builds: Unblemished Red Heifers for Temple Ceremony Soon Come of Age

Sign #8 of 23

Someday there will be a one-world government:

"He [an angel] gave me [Daniel] this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time." (Daniel 7:23-25)

In Daniel 7, the prophet Daniel had a dream in which there were four strange beasts. An angel (possibly the angel Gabriel as in Daniel 8:16 and 9:21) explained to Daniel that a kingdom will one day arise that will be different from all other kingdoms and it will devour the whole earth (Daniel 7:23-25, above). In other words, it will be a kingdom that covers the whole world. It will be a one-world government. So someday we will have a single government that spans the globe, a "New World Order" or "Global Village" (as people are already calling it).

In addition, the angel told Daniel that a "king" will arise who will speak against the Most High God, and oppress His saints, and attempt to setup his own times and laws. The name that we usually use for this man is "the Antichrist." My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One shows that the Antichrist will rule most of the world for the final three and a half years of the seven-year Tribulation period, persecuting Jews and Christians, until he is killed at the Second Coming.

Less than 150 years ago (from the time when this article was written) we had the Pony Express mail-delivery system here in America (see Pony Express Home Station

), as well as the transcontinental telegraph line (see The History of the Telegraph and Telegraphy

). Now, imagine one of those Wild West Pony Express riders. He made it through, he delivered the mail, he didn't get into any gunfights. It was a good day. He gets his Bible out of his saddlebags, and he sits down to drink a cup of coffee, and he sees these prophecies of a one-world government. He's got to be thinking to himself, "If the Pony Express and the telegraph and steamships are the fastest way that we can deliver the mail, then this one-world government must be in the far distant future." We can understand why he would feel that way because you can't run a global government with such limited and slow communications tools as the Pony Express and the telegraph. That Pony Express rider didn't know about global telecommunications satellites or GPS. He didn't know about the Internet. He didn't know about online banking and e-commerce. He didn't know about email and instant messaging. He didn't know about webcams and video teleconferencing with people across the world. He didn't know about cell phones. He didn't know about supersonic air travel. He didn't know about virtual reality and virtual conferencing. He didn't know that in just 150 years in his future a one-world government would be feasible, and prominent leaders would be actively planning and shaping what they call the "New World Order" or the "Global Village." Hillary Clinton and many others talk about the "Global Village," and they are actively pursuing it (search online for "New World Order" and "Global Village").

A little over 70 years ago (from the time when this article was written), commercial long distance telephone service was introduced between America and England (see History of the Telephone

). So 70 years ago they could not have had a one-world government because they didn't have the communications technology yet (they were driving Model T cars back then - see Ford's Model T: A Car for the Great Multitude

). 30 years ago there was no Internet, no email, no instant messaging, no online banking, and so on (see A Brief History of the Internet

). 20 years ago the FCC authorized commercial cell phone service for the USA (see History Of Cellular Phones

). 20 years ago IBM introduced the first IBM PC (see IBM Personal Computer

). That's just 20 years ago!

Technologies such as these will make it possible for a single leader (or group) to govern the entire world, so a one-world government was just not feasible even 20 years ago.

In this article we've seen that we're in the season of Jesus' return. It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which these one-world prophecies could technologically be fulfilled. It's no coincidence that influential leaders are actively working behind the scenes to shape this "global village" and make it a reality. Notice that we already have a World Health Organization, a World Trade Organization, an International Monetary Fund, a World Bank, a United Nations, and so on. Notice that we're seeing global communications technologies developing and maturing, all of which are making this one-world government more and more possible.

Keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this one-world government or "New World Order" or "Global Village" coming together right before your eyes in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy.

Sign #9 of 23

In addition to the Antichrist, there will also be a False Prophet who will be the leader of a one-world religious system:

"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed." (Revelation 13:11-12)

"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)

Revelation 13:11-12 (above) says that there will be a second "beast" who looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. In other words, he'll be a wolf in sheep's clothing. He will appear to be a legitimate religious leader (because the "lamb" is a picture of Jesus as in Revelation 5:12), but in reality he'll be speaking for the devil (because the "dragon" is a picture of the devil as in Revelation 12:9). Revelation 20:10 (above) calls him "the false prophet."

According to Revelation 13:11-12 (above), the False Prophet will try to force everyone in the world to worship the Antichrist (the "first beast"), which means that the False Prophet will be the leader of a one-world religious system. So there will be a worldwide state religion in opposition to Christianity because people will be expected to worship the Antichrist.

However, before the Antichrist comes to power there will be a different one-world religion:

"One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished." (Revelation 17:1-6)

The meanings of some of the above symbols are described a few verses later:

"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages."" (Revelation 17:9-15)

A prostitute takes something that has a proper use and perverts it, turning it into adultery or fornication. That's the normal, physical sense of what a prostitute does. In a spiritual sense, the "prostitute" described in Revelation causes people to commit spiritual adultery or spiritual fornication with her. This "prostitute" is a one-world false religion that will be responsible for killing multitudes of Christians. This "prostitute" is riding on the "beast," indicating that this false religion has government support (because the heads and horns of the "beast" are explained as being kings in the above passage). This is also indicated by the fact that the kings of the earth commit spiritual adultery with this "prostitute" of false religion, according to Revelation 17:1-6 (above). Since this "prostitute" sits on "the waters" (which are explained as being peoples, multitudes, nations and languages), it indicates that this false religion is a one-world religion.

In the news we can occasionally see that different religious groups are trying to find common ground with one another and trying to put aside past differences. God says that there will be a one-world religion someday, and we're seeing people of faith trying to unite with people of other faiths. There's already a coming-together of religious faiths as a stepping-stone to the ultimate fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy.

Update on 06/21/2021: In 2016, Pope Francis stated his desire to create a global religion combining Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. He believes that we are all children of God no matter what our religious views are, and his new interfaith religion goes by several names, such as the Abraham Accord, the Abrahamic Family Initiative, and the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative (although some people refer to it as Chrislam). This is his video that calls for collaboration between faiths: Pope Francis' prayer intentions for January 2016

.

Many people will applaud this type of interfaith religion, but it completely contradicts what the apostle Paul taught:

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

In the above passage, Paul was very clear that Christians must not be "yoked" with non-Christians (which echoes passages such as Deuteronomy 22:9-11, according to Bible commentaries). This command applies to marriages between Christians and non-Christians, but it also applies to other forms of being "yoked" which would include trying to combine Christianity with other faiths and spiritual beliefs.

In February, 2019, the Vatican released a "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together," signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, which says:

"In conclusion, our aspiration is that:
this Declaration may constitute an invitation to reconciliation and fraternity among all believers, indeed among believers and non-believers, and among all people of good will;
this Declaration may be an appeal to every upright conscience that rejects deplorable violence and blind extremism; an appeal to those who cherish the values of tolerance and fraternity that are promoted and encouraged by religions;...
this Declaration may be a sign of the closeness between East and West, between North and South, and between all who believe that God has created us to understand one another, cooperate with one another and live as brothers and sisters who love one another." (Vatican News )

In September, 2019, the Vatican announced what they're calling "the Abrahamic Family House," to be located in the United Arab Emirates and scheduled to open in 2022. A church, a synagogue, and a mosque will all share the same foundation as "the first initiative to embody the ideals of the Document on Human Fraternity," which will "mark a significant transformation in human history" (Vatican News

).

In January, 2020, U.S. Ambassador Gingrich released a statement in which she said:

"On January 14, I was honored to host the opening session of the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative (AFI) at my residence, facilitating discussions among faith leaders to advance peace and mutual respect around the world.
This remarkable gathering of faith leaders was organized by a U.S. non-profit organization, the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), under the leadership of Pastor Bob Roberts, Imam Mohamed Magid, and Rabbi David Saperstein, with the support of U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.
The AFI, which convened 25 senior global religious leaders representing a range of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities for a two-day working dialogue at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, was inspired by Pope Francis and Al-Azhar Grand Imam Al-Tayyeb's 2019 Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.
Indeed, the AFI responds directly to their invitation to reconciliation and fraternity among all believers and people of good will. The Document on Human Fraternity, as stated by Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, one of the participants in the AFI, is a "milestone on the path of interreligious dialogue."" (Statement by Ambassador Gingrich on the Launch of the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative ).

This certainly could be the one-world religion that will precede the Antichrist's one-world religion. In fact, the above quote shows that the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative has government support, exactly as the "prostitute" of false religion does in Revelation 17:1-6 (see my comments on that passage above).

With all of that in mind, keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this one-world religious system coming together right before your eyes. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #10 of 23

The False Prophet will set up some kind of an image of the Antichrist so that it seems to be alive and so that it can speak:

"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon...Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed." (Revelation 13:11, 14-15)

It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which the end-times prophecy of a "living" image of the Antichrist can be fulfilled, whether it's through robotics or holograms or virtual reality or some other modern technology.

Update on 02/13/2023: The above passage says that the image of the Antichrist will be able to speak, and we now have artificial intelligence (AI) software that can replicate anyone's face and voice, as well as AI software that can have real-time natural-language conversations:

"Deep learning systems that can replicate faces and voices (known as deepfakes) have advanced to the point where they can be used in real-time. There are services like Podcastle's Revoice and Voicebot AI where you can submit samples of your own voice and then have text-to-speech that sounds just like you. In principle, technology like this could be used to clone anyone's voice. Then all you'd have to do is phone or video call someone impersonating whomever you like, with public figures being the easiest target of all...AI technologies can now generate images, video, text, and audio seemingly out of thin air. These technologies have reached the point where experts cannot tell they're fake (at least not at a glance). This means you can expect a flood of fake data on the internet in future..."People" with unique faces with generated photos of their entire fake lives, unique coherent profile information, and entire friend and family networks consisting of other fake people. All having conversations with each other just like real people. With networks of fake online agents such as these, malicious actors could pull off various scams and disinformation campaigns." (5 AI Technologies Hackers Can Use in Terrible New Ways )

We're living in a very unique time period in which many different end-times prophecies are being fulfilled step-by-step in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century) so that they can be brought to completion during the seven-year Tribulation.

Sign #11 of 23

The False Prophet will force everyone to receive a "mark" on his or her right hand or forehead in order to be able to buy or sell anything:

"He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666. Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads." (Revelation 13:16-14:1)

Here we have the infamous "mark of the beast." Everyone in the world will need to have some kind of a mark, perhaps on their right hand or on their forehead, in order to be able to buy or sell anything. Somehow the number 666 will be associated with the name of the Antichrist because it's "the number of his name," and the apostle John expected that his readers would be able to "calculate the number of the beast" (Revelation 13:16-14:1, above). However, it's not clear whether John meant that his first-century readers could figure out who the beast is or whether he meant that the future readers during the time of the "mark of the beast" could figure out who it is. As numerous online articles such as the Wikipedia page on the Number of the beast

describe, calculating the number of the beast's name is probably a reference to the ancient practice of isopsephy (Greek) or gematria (Hebrew) in which every letter has a corresponding numeric value, and adding up these numbers gives a total value (such as 666) for a word or a name. Therefore, it's possible, even likely, that when the identity of the Antichrist becomes known sometime in the future, then adding up the letters in his name (e.g., the Greek or Hebrew transliteration of his name) will total 666.

In the above passage, the "mark of the beast" is immediately contrasted with 144,000 servants of God (first mentioned in Revelation 7:1-8) who had the name of Jesus and the name of the Father written on their foreheads. As a number of Bible commentaries

point out, having a mark or seal or name written on one's forehead indicates ownership or loyalty, so those who have Jesus' and the Father's names on their foreheads have given their loyalty to God, and those who have the beast's number or name on their foreheads have given their loyalty to the Antichrist. The beast's followers might have a mark on their hand, and "no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark," which indicates that the "mark of the beast" is also an economic system.

This "mark of the beast" system, which only allows financial transactions between those who have the mark, would probably be impossible without today's technology. For example, it would be a simple matter to give people a barcode tattoo on their skin, which could then be read by a scanner like most stores use. This would allow people's bank accounts to be adjusted automatically whenever they make financial transactions (such as buying or selling anything). In addition, the technology to implant tiny computer chips under the skin exists today, and it's already in use. Many people have RFID chip implants and are experimenting with the possibilities, such as opening electronic door locks, using copy machines, and paying for food (see Microchip implant (human)

).

Notice in Revelation 13:18 (above) that the number 666 is called "man's number" (or "a man's number" in some Bible translations). This is because numbers had important meanings in biblical times. For example, the NIV Study Bible (p.2426) says that in Revelation there are 7 beatitudes, 7 stars, 7 seals, 7 horns and 7 eyes, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, 7 signs, 7 crowns, 7 plagues, 7 golden bowls, 7 hills, 7 kings, and so on, and it says that symbolically, 7 is the number of completeness. 7 is the number of perfection, and it was considered to be God's number. In contrast, 6 is the number of humankind because it falls short of the perfect number 7. That's how these numbers were symbolically used in biblical times, as most Bible commentaries point out.

These prophecies about receiving the "mark of the beast" have caused some people to be concerned about all kinds of things in our modern society. There are websites devoted to finding the meaning of 666 (search online for "666 meaning"), and they talk about such things as Social Security numbers, or the metallic strips that you can see when you hold American $20 bills up to the light, or UPC barcodes on the packages that you buy (because many of these barcodes seem to have "666" embedded in them), or certain identification methods for military personnel, or debit cards, or "smart cards," and so on. But if you read Revelation 13:11-18 closely then you'll see that the "mark of the beast" is not simply an economic system, it's also a worship system. Those who take the mark will be declaring that they're willing to worship the Antichrist as God, and this will seal their punishment:

"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."" (Revelation 14:9-11)

The Antichrist has not yet come to power, and we don't need to be frightened that "they" will somehow sneak this mark onto us and doom us to hell without our knowledge. When this "mark of the beast" system gets underway during the Tribulation, people will know that they must make a decision, and true believers will make their stand for Jesus.

Update on 12/14/2023: A recent article describes the apparent growing popularity of microchip implants in Sweden, and another article goes into more detail about their plans:

"Sweden is known for being an early adapter to technology, and this certainly solidifies that idea. Since 2017, over 4,000 Swedes have implanted a microchip into their hand, just above their thumb. These tiny chips - no bigger than a grain of rice - allows them to unlock their homes, offices, and gyms, make payments and even purchase train tickets. Things such as social media profiles and emergency contact details are also stored inside them." (Thousands Of Swedes Are Inserting Microchips Under Their Skin )

"Osterlund's Biohax is aiming to simplify identity and access in the digital world, offering a replacement to the seemingly endless collection of passwords, keys, tickets, cards that clutter our lives. "With the chip, it's all in this one tiny device that is impossible to lose," he said.
Sjoblad's business, Dsruptive, which is based out of a university in southern Sweden, approaches microchipping as an extension of the wearable health tracking industry. Sjoblad believes that by placing a device under the skin, instead of wearing it like a Fitbit, data collection will be greatly improved. "Swipe it with an iPhone and you will be able to get your blood oxygenation, temperature profile, heart rate patterns, breathing patterns," he said. "For people who want to optimize their health, this would be a game changer."
There are other companies pushing the limits of what microchip implants can do, most notably the Seattle-based Dangerous Things, which sells a variety of bio-enabled devices, including multi-colored LED lights that light up beneath the skin. But Osterlund believes that Sweden will be the focal point of cyborg innovation. "The national railway is already compatible with my chips and as a country we are planning to be totally cashless by 2023," he told me. "I guess here you can see an example of how it can be done."" (The rise of microchipping: are we ready for technology to get under the skin? )

For now, technologies such as barcode tattoos and implantable chips are not the "mark of the beast" because the Antichrist is not yet in power, but they are paving the way for the fulfillment of Revelation 13:16-14:1 (above). Step by step, end-times prophecies are coming together, right in front of our eyes.

Sign #12 of 23

The only way for this type of "mark of the beast" system to be implemented is if we're a totally cashless society because this would allow for complete control over who can buy or sell anything. There's a movement already underway to create this cashless society, as you can see once in awhile in the news (see A Cashless Society Is Imminent

, or The benefits of a cashless society

, or The move to a cashless society isn't just a possibility, it's well underway

, for example).

This cashless "global village" will make it easy to force everyone on earth to use one specific mechanism for buying or selling, which will be the "mark of the beast."

This global cashless society would be impossible without today's technology of computers, global telecommunications, the Internet, online banking, e-commerce, and so on. It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which the end-times "mark of the beast" prophecies could technologically be fulfilled.

Update on 09/24/2021: According to numerous articles online, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are heading toward becoming the primary (or at some point perhaps the only) means of payment in a cashless society. We're seeing the global cashless society coming together right in front of our eyes in fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy, paving the way for the "mark of the beast." For example, see Crypto Ushers in the Adoption of a Cashless Society

or A Look at a Cashless Society with Cryptocurrency

or Cryptocurrency Appears To Be The Next Step Toward Cashless Societies

or Cashless Payments In 2020: Worldwide With Bitcoin, Paypal & Co.

.

On a related note, many articles online claim that Bill Gates has received a patent with the number "666." Actually, Microsoft has a patent application with Publication Number WO/2020/060606

for a "Cryptocurrency System Using Body Activity Data." This patent application does not mention anything about implantable technology or a system of cashless buying and selling, but Bill Gates is working on some things that have many people concerned. Search online for "quantum dot tattoo" to learn about a tattoo he's promoting that (currently) would record your vaccination information invisibly under your skin, which can be read by a customized smartphone. Bill Gates and/or Microsoft are also involved with developing a digital ID system that many people are concerned about (search online for "ID2020").

Many websites express all kinds of concerns about these things that we see happening. My personal view is that there's no point in being fearful or worried or even concerned that a global cashless society and a "mark of the beast" system are coming together. The Bible clearly says that these things will happen, so it's fascinating to be able to watch them come together but they are not a cause for alarm. We can't stop or prevent these things from happening, and as Christians it's important for us to have the proper perspective (God's perspective) concerning the things of this world. My article called Cheat Sheet #04 discusses in detail the proper perspectives that we need to maintain. The only concern we should have is helping people understand that when they are required to have some kind of implant or tattoo or other technology for buying or selling anything and worship someone as a god, then they need to refuse it (see Revelation 14:9-11, above).

Update on 12/14/2023: As of March 24, 2023, Sweden is now "the first cashless nation in the world, with an economy that goes 100 percent digital," according to this article: Sweden: How to Live in the World's First Cashless Society

. After Sweden, these countries are closest to going cashless: Finland, China, South Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, and Canada (Cashless Societies: Which Countries Are Making The Switch?

).

Update on 02/01/2024: According to this article from a year ago, cashless businesses are on the rise in America, often with signs out front that say "Cash Not Accepted" (although so far there has been significant push-back from customers): What To Do when Cash Isn't Accepted

.

Keep an eye on the news with a discerning spirit and you'll be able to watch this worldwide cashless society coming together, step by step, right before your eyes. The world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described in Bible prophecy. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #13 of 23

The Bible tells us that the city of Babylon will be destroyed during the seven-year Tribulation:

"With a mighty voice he [an angel] shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!...The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."" (Revelation 18:2-3)

So the book of Revelation tells us that Babylon will be destroyed in some way during the seven-year Tribulation. But the ancient city of Babylon died out long ago.

According to this and other passages, the ancient city of Babylon will become a center of commerce during the Tribulation, and possibly it will be the headquarters of the Antichrist, so it will need to be rebuilt somehow.

Some people try to interpret this Babylon in a spiritual sense, saying that America is the new Babylon, or that capitalism is the spiritual Babylon, and so on. However, Saddam Hussein spent millions or billions of dollars rebuilding and reconstructing ancient Babylon, and you can see pictures of the rebuilt Babylon at Why the Confusion?

. He followed in the footsteps of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of ancient Babylon, by embossing his own inscription into bricks throughout the many walls and buildings. Some of these inscriptions say:

"In the era of President Saddam Hussein all Babylon was constructed in three stages. From Nebuchadnezzar to Saddam Hussein, Babylon is rising again."

We've examined a number of signs which indicate that we're in the season of Jesus' return. The Bible says that Babylon will be a center of commerce during the seven-year Tribulation, and possibly it will be the headquarters of the Antichrist, so perhaps it's no coincidence that the ancient city of Babylon has now been rebuilt in preparation for its destruction during the seven-year Tribulation. We can't really say for sure whether Saddam's Babylon is the same as the "Babylon" described in Revelation, but we shouldn't lightly dismiss the possibility. Remember, these different end-times prophecies are all being fulfilled in the same time frame (beginning in the twentieth century), right in front of our eyes.

We're living in a very unique time period because there is no other time in history when so many end-times prophecies were being fulfilled.

Sign #14 of 23

At some point during the seven-year Tribulation, God will raise up "two witnesses" to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth:

"I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth." If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city - which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt - where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on." (Revelation 11:1-12)

As Bible commentaries point out, the Two Witnesses will be able to do things similar to Old Testament prophets such as Moses and Elijah, and they're described as being "the two olive trees" and "the two lampstands," and "they stand before the Lord of the earth." These were things that the Old Testament prophet Zechariah saw in a vision (Zechariah 4) concerning Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. The Two Witnesses will be clothed in sackcloth, which is frequently found in the Old Testament as a sign of mourning (e.g., Genesis 37:34 and 2 Samuel 3:31). There's a definite Old Testament flavor to the Two Witnesses.

When Jesus was transfigured in front of some of the apostles, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke to Jesus for a few minutes (Matthew 17:1-8), then they were gone (we're never told that they were resurrected back into their bodies for this appearance). Since Moses and Elijah have already appeared together on earth once, and since the Two Witnesses will be able to do what some of the Old Testament prophets such as Moses and Elijah were able to do, some people speculate that the Two Witnesses might actually be Moses and Elijah.

The problem is that the Two Witnesses will be killed (Revelation 11:1-12, above), and Hebrews 9:27 says that people are destined to die once. Some people in the New Testament were resurrected from the dead, but there's no evidence that any of them were dead longer than a few days. Moses had his "one death" thousands of years ago, so it's extremely unlikely that he will be resurrected and then die again as one of the Two Witnesses.

The Two Witnesses are described as if they are Old Testament men of faith, but all of the Old Testament men of faith had their "one death" thousands of years ago. Or did they? There are two men in the Old Testament who never actually died:

"As they [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (2 Kings 2:11)

"Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." (Genesis 5:23-24)

"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." (Hebrews 11:5)

Since the Two Witnesses are described as if they are Old Testament men of faith who are killed by the Antichrist and then resurrected, and since Elijah and Enoch are Old Testament men of faith who never died, it's plausible that Elijah and Enoch will be the Two Witnesses. Or perhaps the Two Witnesses will be two people who are alive during the seven-year Tribulation period.

Another reason why Elijah is plausible as one of the Two Witnesses is that during his ministry he called down fire from heaven that consumed his enemies (2 Kings 1:9-12), and the heavens were shut for three and a half years with no rain (Luke 4:25), just as we see in Revelation 11:1-12 (above). A further reason is that Malachi had prophesied that Elijah will be sent to Israel before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes (Malachi 4:5-6), which is the seven-year Tribulation period (see my series in the next paragraph). John the Baptist ministered in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), but he said that he was not Elijah (John 1:19-21). Jesus said that John was "the Elijah who was to come" (Matthew 11:12-14), but He added a qualification ("if you are willing to accept it"). After John's death (Matthew 14:1-12), Jesus told the disciples that John was the Elijah who was to come but that Israel was not willing to accept it, so Elijah was still to come (Matthew 17:10-13), apparently because his ministry was not fulfilled in John (notice the "or else" in Malachi 4:5-6). Therefore, either Elijah himself or someone else ministering in the spirit and power of Elijah will be one of the Two Witnesses.

Revelation 11:1-12 (above) says that the Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 42 months, and that the Two Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days. My series called The Rapture of the Church shows that these time periods both refer to three and a half years (which is half of the seven-year Tribulation period), and that the Antichrist will be a Gentile (non-Jew) who will desecrate the Jewish temple at the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation period and carry out a terrible persecution of the nation of Israel during the last half of the Tribulation (which pastors and Bible teachers sometimes refer to as "the Great Tribulation"). So when Revelation 11:1-12 (above) says that the Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 42 months, this is a reference to the Great Tribulation, the last half of the Tribulation. When it says that the Two Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, this is most likely a reference to the first half of the Tribulation. As my series on the Rapture (above) describes, the Antichrist cannot be set loose on the world until the restraining influence (the Church, the body of Christ) is taken out of the way in the Rapture. That series also explains that there will be a huge number of people who will receive salvation after the Rapture, which is interesting since there will be no Christians on earth to do evangelism or teach people about Jesus. When the Two Witnesses begin prophesying (speaking out God's truths but not necessarily foretelling the future - The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, propheteuo), imagine what would happen if they begin prophesying immediately after the Rapture, and if the Antichrist makes a treaty or contract agreement with Israel three and a half days later (which will be the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period as my series above shows). Their prophesying would be a significant reason for multitudes to be able to hear the Gospel and receive salvation, and they would prophesy for 1,260 days and then be killed and lie dead for three and a half days, and then be resurrected and raptured (Revelation 11:1-12, above). At that point (at the mid-point of the Tribulation), their restraining influence would now be removed (e.g., "fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies" - Revelation 11:1-12, above, and see 2 Kings 1:9-12) and the Antichrist would then be free to desecrate the Jewish temple, initiating the Great Tribulation (the last half of the Tribulation). This scenario very closely echoes the restraining influence of the present-day Church, which will be removed by means of a Rapture, enabling the Antichrist to further his plans. This would mean that the Two Witnesses will essentially be a mini Church during the first half of the seven-year Tribulation period, and it explains how Elijah will come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5-6), which is the seven-year Tribulation period (see my series above).

In Revelation 11:1-12 (above), notice that people all over the world will gaze on the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses. This is another example of the many end-times Bible prophecies that could not have been understood in any other time period but ours. For example, the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses will probably be shown around the world on CNN and Fox News and other news shows, and the images will no doubt be broadcast across the Internet.

It's no coincidence that we're now living in the very first time in history in which the end-times prophecy of the entire world gazing on the bodies of the Two Witnesses could possibly be fulfilled. Before 1935, when the first television broadcasting service began (see Television History - The First 75 Years

), nobody could have understood how this prophecy can be fulfilled. But we can understand how.

We're living in a very unique period in history. We've already seen that the "birth pains" have begun, as Jesus called them. We're in "labor." We're in the season of Jesus' return. These different end-times prophecies are all being fulfilled in the same time frame, right in front of our eyes, unlike ever before. History as we know it is coming to an end. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #15 of 23

Another major end-times prophecy yet to be fulfilled is a Russian invasion of Israel:

"The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say:...I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army - your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops - the many nations with you...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...You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people - all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." (Ezekiel 38:1-12)

According to the above passage there will be a massive invasion of Israel sometime in the future. This passage tells us that the people being invaded will be the regathered Jews, and it says that the land in Israel used to be desolate but now is rich in livestock and goods to be plundered. From some of the signs of the times that we've already examined we know that the regathering and the replanting are currently in progress, so this invasion is still in the future; it's not a past invasion.

The leader of the invasion is "Gog, of the land of Magog" (Ezekiel 38:1-12, above). Many Bible scholars identify Magog as being Russia, as in the following quote:

"The identification of Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal is to be determined from the fact that these tribes of the ancient world occupied the areas of modern day Russia. Magog, Meshech and Tubal were between the Black and Caspian Seas which today is southern Russia...These names, then, cover the modern territories of northern and southern Russia in Europe and Siberia to the east in Asia. The modern nation of the Soviet Union encompasses all these areas of Ezekiel.
As if to avoid any further possible doubt, verse six adds that these come from the uttermost parts of the north. This is repeated in 38:15 and 39:2. From Israel the uttermost parts of the north is Russia with Moscow being almost a straight line due north from Jerusalem." (The Footsteps of the Messiah, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, p.70)

Other nations involved in this massive invasion of Israel are "Persia, Cush and Put" (Ezekiel 38:5) as well as "Gomer...and Beth Togarmah" (Ezekiel 38:6). The names and borders of nations have changed over the centuries, but prophecy teachers tend to agree that the invasion force will probably include Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, and Germany, and it will also probably include Somalia, Armenia, Iraq, Lybia, Jordan, and the Persian Gulf states including Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Bahrain, and Yemen.

This massive invasion force will advance against Israel "like a cloud that covers the land" (Ezekiel 38:16), and God gives us the purpose of this invasion: "I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you" (Ezekiel 38:16). God will show Himself holy through this invasion by supernaturally defeating it:

"This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'" (Ezekiel 38:18-23)

Some people see the possibility of nuclear war in the above passage. It also appears that God will supernaturally create confusion or anger among the armies, causing them to turn on each other, because the above passage says that "Every man's sword will be against his brother."

After the massive destruction of the invading armies, the Jews will burn the weapons of war for fuel for seven years. There will be people who are employed to bury the dead and cleanse the land, and workers who find a human bone will set a marker beside it so that the specialists can bury it. This is sometimes taken as an indication that there will be radioactive contamination:

"'Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and use the weapons for fuel and burn them up - the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the war clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel. They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel...For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land...Men will be regularly employed to cleanse the land. Some will go throughout the land and, in addition to them, others will bury those that remain on the ground. At the end of the seven months they will begin their search. As they go through the land and one of them sees a human bone, he will set up a marker beside it until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. (Also a town called Hamonah will be there.) And so they will cleanse the land.'" (Ezekiel 39:9-16)

Scripture is not specific concerning the timing of the Russian invasion, so we don't know when it will happen. Keep an eye on international news, especially where it concerns the former Soviet Union and Israel. Prophecy teachers point out that in times when Russia has had internal chaos, they have attacked somewhere in order to get more resources. With Israel trading land for peace and with the republics of the former Soviet Union struggling economically and fighting among themselves, it's not too hard to imagine that the time is almost ripe for the prophesied invasion.

Iran will probably be part of the invading force as we saw above, and in 1985 when Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum wrote his end-times prophecy book, The Footsteps of the Messiah, he said:

"Though Iran has generally been pro-western and pro-Israel, this must eventually change." (p.70, emphasis added).

In the 1995 re-printing of The Footsteps of the Messiah, the above statement has a footnote:

"Written before the Khomeini Islamic revolution. As of now Iran is anti-western and anti-Israel but not as yet within the Russian sphere of influence." (p.70, emphasis added).

Update on 04/29/2021: Iran and Russia now have ties and cooperation agreements in a number of areas, according to Al Jazeera

and The Times of Israel

.

Update on 12/14/2023: Iran and Russia have been conducting joint naval drills together (along with China) for several years now, as this article describes: China, Russia, Iran hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman

.

Step by step, end-times prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of our eyes.

Sign #16 of 23

To provide some background for this next sign, let's look at the history of the church. In the first century there were the original apostles, and the New Testament was in the process of being written. That's one period in church history. There was brief, localized persecution of Christians under Nero, but it was near the end of the first century when a long period of persecution against Christians began (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.82-84). That's the second period in church history, and it lasted under a number of Roman emperors until Constantine converted to Christianity around AD 312 (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.139). This began the third period of church history, in which the church and the state were generally "married," so to speak, under a number of Christian emperors (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.139-151). Then in AD 590, Gregory the Great became pope. The History of Christianity says that:

"Gregory's period as pope, by its extension of the pope's authority, marks the transition from the ancient world of imperial Rome to medieval Christendom united by the Roman Catholic church." (p.203, emphasis added)

So that was the fourth period of church history, the period of the Middle Ages, which brings us all the way up to 1517, when the period of the Reformation began (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.366), which is the fifth period in church history. Then in 1648, with the Peace of Westphalia, an era of wars of religion came to an end, according to The History of Christianity (p.466). This opened the door for the Great Missionary Movement (The History of Christianity, Dr. Tim Dowley, p.466-484), which is often considered to be the sixth period in the history of the church, and this brings us up to the modern era, which is the seventh period of church history. That's a general outline of how Christian scholars tend to break down the history of the Church Age. Church history just naturally falls into these 7 distinct periods.

Notice that in Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus dictated letters to 7 churches:

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:1-7)

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." (Revelation 2:8-11)

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live - where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city - where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." (Revelation 2:12-17)

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations - 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:18-29)

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6)

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars - I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:7-13)

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."" (Revelation 3:14-22)

The 7 churches mentioned in the above passages were 7 actual churches that existed in the first century, but some Bible scholars say that these 7 churches were also meant to be representative of the entire Church Age. For example, take a look at Revelation 1:10-11:

"On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."" (Revelation 1:10-11)

So Jesus told the apostle John to write letters to "the 7 churches," and then He named 7 specific churches. But think about it. How can those be the 7 churches? What about the Corinthian church? What about the Philippian church? What about the Thessalonian church? They're not mentioned in these letters, so the churches in these letters were not the only 7 churches back then. There's more here than meets the eye. Now let's look at Revelation 1:4:

"John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia" (Revelation 1:4)

So the apostle John addressed the book of Revelation to "the 7 churches," just like Jesus told him to do, and he added the phrase, "in the province of Asia" (because those 7 churches were all in Asia in the first century). But the church of the Colossians, for example, was also in Asia, as were other first-century churches. So again, why were these specific churches called "the" 7 churches? Well, recall that earlier we saw that the number 7 is the number of perfection, the number of completeness. So "the" 7 churches are perhaps intended to be representative of the complete Church body. After all, these were not the only 7 churches back then, nor were they the largest churches back then, according to Bible scholars (see The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Revelation 2:1).

To make the point even further, let's look at Revelation 1:4 again:

"John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne" (Revelation 1:4)

In the above passage, the apostle John was not saying, "Grace and peace to you...from the 7 angels before his throne," because grace and peace only come from God and because the Bible describes more than 7 angels (as in Revelation 5:11). So Bible commentaries often say that the 7 spirits in the above verse really represent the seven-fold Spirit of God. For example, notice that Isaiah 11:1-2 describes the Holy Spirit by saying that He is the Spirit "of" 7 different things:

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (Isaiah 11:1-2)

Again, the number 7 is the number of completeness or perfection, so the "seven-fold Spirit of God" represents the completeness or the perfection of the Holy Spirit of God. In a similar way, the 7 churches are often considered to be representative of the complete Church body throughout the Church Age. In fact, notice that in each of the 7 letters, Jesus specifically said that He was speaking to all of the churches (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22, above), not just 7 specific churches.

When we take all of these things into consideration, the weight of evidence leads many pastors and Bible teachers to the conclusion that the letters to the 7 churches had a local application to those 7 specific churches back then, but that these letters are also "types" or "foreshadowings," in sequence, corresponding to the 7 distinct periods in the history of the church. Among those who look at it from that perspective, there seems to be unanimous agreement that we're now living in the last period of church history. This last period of church history is described in the 7th letter, in Revelation 3:14-22, and it's a period of apostasy, meaning that churches will call themselves Christian but they have actually fallen away from scriptural doctrine in different areas.

For example, a recent movement that has caused much concern and criticism among evangelical scholars is called the "Emerging church" movement (or "Emergent church" movement). Here are some quotes from the Wikipedia article on this movement:

"Some Evangelicals such as D. A. Carson have characterized the emerging church movement as primarily a movement of protest in which participants are reacting against their more conservative heritage...
Many Evangelical scholars criticize the movement for maintaining that certainty in faith is not achievable and for rejecting the view of historical orthodoxy regarding the perspicuity of Scripture. Brian McLaren admits to not knowing why Jesus died on the cross, and he maintains that even Jesus did not know the reason for this sacrifice...
While many Evangelicals have been open to some of the criticisms that the emerging church movement has offered, most seem to have rejected the emerging church movement's views of several key theological themes within their soteriology [the study of salvation] and eschatology [the study of the end-times] as well as the openness of some in the emerging church movement to alternative lifestyles. Many of these critics seem especially concerned about unorthodox views in the emerging church movement on doctrines such as blood atonement, salvation by faith, hell, and the sovereignty of God...
Conservative Evangelicals have also contested the emergent view of evangelism. They believe the emergent view of God's kingdom is too narrowly limited to improving social conditions while ignoring eternal matters...
Some Evangelicals also express concern that the postmodern spirituality embraced by many emergents is more syncretistic [attempting to combine the practices of different beliefs] than scriptural." (Emerging church , comments added)

This and other forms of apostasies (such as the Abrahamic Faiths Initiative that we saw in sign #9) are becoming more widespread in churches today in fulfillment of the final stage of church history, which is described in the letter to the church at Laodicea.

In 2 Thessalonians, when the apostle Paul mentioned the Rapture and the Day of the Lord (which are examined in detail in my series called The Rapture of the Church), he said that first will come "the rebellion" (NIV), which is translated in other versions of the Bible as "the falling away" (e.g., ASV, KJV, NKJV, YLT):

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion ["the falling away"] occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

As my series on the Rapture (above) shows, "the Day of the Lord" is the seven-year Tribulation period and beyond, and "the man of lawlessness" is the Antichrist. In the above passage, the Greek word translated as "rebellion" or "falling away" is where we get the English word "apostasy" (see these Bible commentaries

).

So Paul said that in the end-times, before the seven-year Tribulation begins, first there will come "the apostasy." As some of those Bible commentaries point out, Paul was not referring to apostasy in general, but instead he was referring to "the" apostasy. Pastors and Bible teachers and Bible commentaries sometimes call this "the great apostasy" or "the great departure from the faith" or "the great falling away," which will take place in the end-times before the Rapture and the seven-year Tribulation according to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (above). We'll come back to this in sign #19.

After Jesus told the disciples about the one specific sign that marks the beginning of the end of history as we know it (as we saw earlier), He then said:

"At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand" (Matthew 24:10-15)

The context in the above passage relates to the end-times (notice "the abomination that causes desolation," which we saw earlier), and in that context Jesus described false prophets as well as people turning away from the faith and their love growing cold. Again, this is a graphic picture of apostasy in the end-times, which we're seeing more and more in recent years, such as prominent Christian leaders renouncing their faith (search online for "Christian leaders renouncing faith").

Update on 11/15/2022: Many Christians believe that all spiritual gifts are still available today (including healings, miracles, prophecies, and speaking in tongues), and they're usually referred to as "charismatics." They're also sometimes referred to as "continuationists" based on their view that all gifts of the Spirit continue to be available today. All other Christians are usually referred to as "cessationists" because they believe that some spiritual gifts ceased or died out during or shortly after the first century. I recently wrote an article called All Gifts of the Spirit Are Available Today which shows that cessationism is a form of last-days apostasy, and we'll see more about this in sign #19.

Update on 02/13/2023: As you can see online, a number of Christians are adamant that the church should stop referring to God as "He" or "Father," and should use gender-neutral or female alternatives instead. For example, in early 2023 the Church of England had a meeting between bishops, clergy, and laypeople to discuss changing church doctrine in this and other areas:

"The Church of England convened a synod this past week, a gathering of bishops, clergy and laypeople for the purpose of reviewing and possibly changing church doctrine...
The biggest news story to come out of the church's gathering was that some within the Church of England are calling for 2000-year-old references to God as He, Him or Father to be banished, instead using gender-neutral or female alternatives...
The Bishop of Lichfield, Michael Ipgrave, serving as Vice Chair of the church's Liturgical Commission provided a reply that excited those seeking the change. "We have been exploring the use of gendered language in relation to God for several years in collaboration with the Faith and Order Commission. After some dialogue between the two commissions in this area, a new joint project on gendered language will begin this spring."...
In an effort to placate the current cultural whims of members of their clergy and laity, they would question whether Jesus, on whom their church is founded, was wrong. Toss out the Savior to fit the current cultural narrative...
If the Church of England walks down the path of ignoring Jesus and instead referring to God in gender-neutral terms, it will have abandoned its role as a Christian organization." (Church of England considers abandoning Christianity )

Throughout the New Testament, God is never referred to as "Mother" (meter in the Greek) or "Parent" (goneus in the Greek). Instead, He's always referred to as "Father" (Pater in the Greek). In three places (Mark 14:36, Romans 8:14-15, Galatians 4:6) He's also referred to as "Abba" (always using the expression "Abba, Father"), which means "Daddy" as a number of Bible commentaries point out:

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, which is the Hebrew word for daddy. That beautiful, close, intimate relationship that God wants you to experience with Him, to look to Him as your Daddy, as your Father." (Chuck Smith's Through the Bible Commentary, Galatians 4:1-31)

"Abba was what a little child would call his father. Jesus' relationship to His Father was close and tender." (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Mark 14:36)

"The word "Abba" is the Aramaic word for "Father." It is the diminutive form used by small children in addressing their fathers. It is appropriate to see its similarity to the English word "Daddy." Used by Christ (cf. Mar 14:36), this familiar form indicates intimacy and trust as opposed to the formalism of legalism." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Galatians 4:6)

We're free to use and invent gender-neutral pronouns for each other, and to redefine "they" so it can be used as a gender-inclusive singular pronoun, but God chose to reveal Himself in Scripture using only masculine pronouns. Since Jesus called God "Abba" and "Father," and since the rest of the New Testament refers to God as "Father," we have no scriptural support for using female pronouns or female alternatives when referring to God. We also have no scriptural support for replacing masculine pronouns for God such as "He" and "Him" with gender-neutral or gender-inclusive pronouns such as "they" (for example, see Why Do We Use Masculine Pronouns for God?

). A similar issue is that some people try to argue that the Holy Spirit is God the Mother, but Scripture does not support this idea (see my article called Cheat Sheet #26). Wanting to use female pronouns or female alternatives when referring to God is another form of last-days apostasy, trying to re-write Scripture based on modern ideas and preferences.

Update on 04/11/2023: As this quote points out, the recent "He Gets Us" advertising campaign is trying to market a false Jesus onto the world (see the article for the problems with this campaign):

"In case you haven't seen it yet, there's a $100 million advertising campaign that launched this year [2022] across the United States and is aimed at helping rescue Jesus's reputation from the "damage" done by His followers. It features a website, billboards in major cities, and ads that have been viewed 300 million times. "He Gets Us," as the campaign is known, is funded by anonymous donors. If you haven't seen the ads yet, you likely will soon...Yes, Jesus was fully human, but He was also fully God. When you remove half the picture of His identity (as this campaign does), you give people the understanding they want but not the fuller understanding they need. Because of this, He Gets Us has the potential to actually harm the public understanding of Jesus. People need to know that Jesus is our Savior, not a compassionate buddy." (7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign )

Update on 04/12/2023: When the disciples asked Jesus what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, in His reply He said that many will turn away from the faith and the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:10-15). We've seen some ways that this prophecy is being fulfilled in our time, and another way that the fulfillment of this prophecy can be seen is in the blogs and forums that were specifically created for people to express the reasons why they turned their backs on Christianity, such as: ExCommunications: Stories from ex-believers, doubters, and those recovering from religion

, or the recent books and studies on deconversion such as: The Anatomy of Deconversion: A Book Review

.

Update on 02/08/2024: A recent video posted by Donald Trump for his presidential campaign describes him in messianic terms: Iowa Evangelical pastors condemn 'sickening' video portraying Trump as messianic figure

. We've seen that there will be false messiahs, and this video comes very close to portraying him in that way. He has endorsed this vision of himself by posting the video online, so keep a discerning eye on the news about him. He's already taken the step of wanting to be seen as messiah-like, and the next step would be to declare himself as an actual messiah. Maybe he'll take that step, maybe not, but it's not difficult to imagine that a number of his supporters will see him in that way. As these authors point out, some Christian supporters of Trump are already showing signs of committing (or being close to committing) idolatry, which is another example of apostasy in our times:

Update on 04/03/2024: Online articles that refer to Donald Trump's messianic image just keep coming, as in these recent examples:

Sign #17 of 23

Notice how the apostle Paul described "the last days":

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people" (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The above passage certainly describes our society. Paul said that people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, ungrateful, abusive, without self-control, and so on. It's no coincidence that people today tend to be so focused on themselves and so inconsiderate of others that we have terms in our vocabulary such as "road rage," "air rage," "the Me Generation" (Baby Boomers), "the Me Me Me Generation" (Millennials), "Generation Me" (Gen-Y), and so on.

It's also interesting that Paul said in the above passage that people will be "without love" in the last days. In the Greek language there are different words for different types of love, such as agape (which is explained in detail in chapter 7 of my book called Divine Healing Absolutely Is for Today), phileo, philadelphia ("brotherly love"), and so on. When Paul said that in the last days there will be people "without love," the Greek word that he used was astorgos, which describes a specific type of love. According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments (Dr. Spiros Zodhiates), this Greek word specifically means "Without family love." In other words, without the natural family bond of affection and love.

So Paul said that in the end-times there will be people who do not have that natural family bond and natural family love. How many times in the last few years have we seen in the news where parents have actually murdered their own children in cold blood, where teenagers have murdered their parents, and where children have "divorced" their own parents (see 9 Child Stars Who Divorced Their Parents

)? At times it seems like a never-ending parade of family destruction in the news. Not too long ago, a daytime TV talk show was dedicated to this recent type of phenomenon, and it was entitled, "I'm Afraid of My Children."

With divorce rates and abortion rates skyrocketing, and with parents killing their own children or throwing their unwanted newborns out of car windows or into trash dumpsters, we're seeing the fulfillment of Paul's end-times prophecy. In fact, we now have a name for infants who are tossed into trash cans. They're called "trash babies." This is now so prevalent that it has become a part of modern-day vocabulary. Newsweek had an article entitled "Cradles to Coffins" that highlighted the tragic increase of "neonaticides," the killing of our infants (see Neonaticide

). So we even have a scientific name for this phenomenon because it has become such a problem. In ancient cultures they sometimes sacrificed infants, but they felt that they needed to do it in order to appease the "gods." In our culture, people simply discard their newborns just like another piece of trash because that natural family bond of love and affection has broken down, exactly like Paul said would happen in the last days. The L.A. Times published an article called "We All Must Answer for Why Teenagers Kill Their Babies" (see Neonaticide

). The accompanying cartoon had a sign that said, "Please separate your trash," and the picture showed three trash cans that were labeled, "paper," "plastic," and "babies." That's a sad commentary on our society.

We've reached a point in America where there are billboards begging people not to throw away their unwanted babies. For example, in December, 1999, 75 billboards went up in Houston, TX, that said, "Don't abandon your baby!" We have to beg people not to do that. There are centers that were specifically established so that people can bring their unwanted newborn babies and turn them over to these centers rather than tossing newborn babies into trash dumpsters or leaving them on doorsteps or in the streets. There are cemeteries that were specifically created for abandoned babies who were left to die anonymous deaths. There are programs such as the AMT Children of Hope Foundation, the National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center, Project Cuddle, Baby Rescue Program, the Safe Place for Newborns, the Harris County Baby Abandonment Task Force, etc., to deal with this growing problem. There's a Safe Place for Newborns Act in Georgia Law, there's a program in Alabama called the Secret Safe Place for Newborns, in Texas there's the Baby Moses Project, which is a nonprofit group set up to publicize safe legal abandonment as an alternative to baby-dumping, and so on. Laws are pending or have been passed in at least 34 states that would decriminalize baby abandonment so that mothers will not be afraid to bring their babies to an abandonment center rather than throwing the babies out of car windows or leaving them floating in airport toilets. To learn more, see the U.S. Infant Abandonment Resources

page or search the Internet for the above facts.

Paul specifically said that in the last days the natural family bond of love will break down. We've seen that the "birth pains" have begun, as Jesus called them. We're in the last days before Jesus comes back, and it's no coincidence that Paul's prophecy is now coming true. Jesus is returning soon.

Sign #18 of 23

Imagine that you're the apostle John. Imagine that you live in the first century, and that God is giving you a vision of nuclear war in the twenty-first century. How would you describe what you're seeing? After all, you're living centuries before gunpowder was invented (see Formation of the Chinese Civilization

), and you've never seen anything like what's in your vision.

So how would you describe nuclear detonations using first-century words and images? A nuclear blast is accompanied by incredible noise, so maybe it reminds you of thunder. Nuclear blasts are also accompanied by blinding flashes of light, so maybe it makes you think of lightning. A nuclear explosion would shake the ground with incredible intensity, so maybe it reminds you of an earthquake. During nuclear blast testing in the U.S. in the 1950s, people reported pink radioactive hail falling on their ranches. So not only do you have a fireball from the explosion, but there can be radioactive hail as well. Also, footage of actual nuclear detonations shows that the fireball burns up many things in its path as it rolls out from the epicenter of the blast, so you might describe this type of devastation by saying that trees and grass are burned up. These are natural ways that a first-century person might describe nuclear blasts. Now compare these descriptions with what John wrote in Revelation 8:5-7:

"Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up." (Revelation 8:5-7)

We don't know if John had a vision of nuclear war, but notice that he accurately described some of the effects of nuclear blasts, even though he didn't have our modern technological vocabulary to help him describe these things. If the above passage describes nuclear detonations, then John has described the effects that a nuclear war will have on the land.

Now imagine the carnage that will result in the oceans when these weapons of destruction are targeted at ships, submarines, naval bases, and so on. If you were living in the first century, how would you describe a massive Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a long trail of fire propelling it? Would you say that it's something like a huge mountain, all on fire? Would you say that it's a star falling from the sky? Would you say that it blazes like a torch? Here's how John described what he was seeing:

"The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter." (Revelation 8:8-11)

If the above passage describes nuclear war, then notice that John has described some of the effects that nuclear blasts will have on the world's oceans and water supplies. In verse 10 in the above passage, John described a great "star," blazing like a torch, that fell from the sky and poisoned the waters. Imagine a modern rocket that's delivering a nuclear payload. As it reaches the top of its arc and begins coming back down toward its target, the flames coming out of the rocket look like they're now above the rocket. Doesn't that make it look like a blazing torch, falling from the sky, just like John described? And if that rocket is nuclear-tipped then the residual radiation would begin poisoning the water, and people would die from radiation poisoning after drinking that "bitter" water just as John described. In verse 11 (above), notice that this "blazing torch" was given a name, "Wormwood." Why was that object given a name? God does not do things without reason, so what's the significance of this name?

That object is called "Wormwood," which is the name of a bitter plant with the scientific name of Artemisia vulgaris (also known as mugwort). In Russia, the wormwood plant is called "chernobyl

," and here's a quote from Wikipedia about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster:

"The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is located next to the Pripyat River, which feeds into the Dnieper reservoir system, one of the largest surface water systems in Europe, which at the time supplied water to Kiev's 2.4 million residents, and was still in spring flood when the accident occurred. The radioactive contamination of aquatic systems therefore became a major problem in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
In the most affected areas of Ukraine, levels of radioactivity (particularly from radionuclides 131I, 137Cs and 90Sr) in drinking water caused concern during the weeks and months after the accident." (Chernobyl disaster )

Although the prophecy in Revelation 8:8-11 (above) has not yet been fulfilled, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster perhaps gives us clues about how this prophecy will come to pass (people dying from radiation poisoning after drinking the "bitter" water just as the apostle John described).

Another effect of nuclear blasts will be massive amounts of dust and debris hurled into the atmosphere, creating what scientists call "nuclear winter" because much of the light from the sun and stars will be obscured (see Nuclear winter

). Notice what John wrote:

"I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place." (Revelation 6:12-14)

"The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!" The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss." (Revelation 8:12-9:2)

In his vision, John saw "stars" fall to earth, which are associated with earthquakes, and the sun being darkened from smoke, and mountains and islands being "moved," and so on. Perhaps he was witnessing a nuclear exchange. For example, he specifically described the sky receding like a scroll being rolled up, which is a good description of a mushroom cloud from a nuclear detonation. If the above passages are related to nuclear war, then notice that John has described the effects that nuclear detonations will have in the air.

Maybe the above passages are describing nuclear war, maybe not. We can't be certain. But if so, then John did a good job of describing the effects that nuclear war will have on the ground, in the water, and in the air.

If you continue to imagine that you're the apostle John, living in the first century, and God gives you a vision of twenty-first-century helicopter gunships that are carrying biological or chemical weapons that for some reason don't kill people, but rather they cause long-lasting agony, how would you describe all of that? Perhaps the helicopters remind you of a swarm of locusts that look like horses prepared for battle. Perhaps the weaponry makes you think of the sting of a scorpion. The sun reflecting off of the canopies of the helicopters might look to you like crowns of gold. Perhaps you can actually see the human faces of the pilots. And what about those spinning rotor blades, don't they kind of look like long hair? The rocket pods might remind you of lion's teeth. Perhaps the metal frames of the helicopters remind you of breastplates of iron, and maybe the helicopter gunships are so noisy that they remind you of the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. When the helicopters fire their rockets, the smoke makes the helicopters look like they have tails. Those might be appropriate ways for a first-century person to describe modern-day helicopter gunships. Here's what John said in Revelation 9:3-10:

"And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months." (Revelation 9:3-10)

John said that these "locusts" came "down" upon the earth, and he described the loud sound of their "wings," which is a description of flying objects (possibly helicopters). Notice that the above passage says that the "locusts" will not kill people, but instead these "locusts" will inflict suffering of some kind for a limited duration. This sounds rather odd, because normally we think of weapons of war as being used for killing people. So if John was experiencing a vision of warfare in the twenty-first century or beyond, then it seems strange that he would see non-lethal weapons being used.

It turns out that various forms of non-lethal weapons of war are being developed at this very moment. For example, here's an excerpt from a recent Associated Press article (emphasis added):

"Aside from paralyzing potential attackers or noncombatants like a long-range stun gun, directed-energy weapons could fry the electronics of missiles and roadside bombs, developers say, or even disable a vehicle in a high-speed chase...
At the same Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico, researchers working with Raytheon Co. have developed a weapon called the Active Denial System, which repels adversaries by heating the water molecules in their skin with microwave energy. The pain is so great that people flee immediately.
"It just feels like your skin is on fire," said Rich Garcia, a spokesman for the laboratory who, as a test subject, has felt the Active Denial System's heat. "When you get out of the path of the beam, or shut off the beam, everything goes back to normal. There's no residual pain."...
"You can rest assured that with this system, when it finally is deployed, we will be very, very clear about what the intended uses are and what is clearly outside of bounds," said Marine Corps Capt. Daniel McSweeney, spokesman for the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate...
The device being developed by Schlesinger's company, HSV Technologies Inc. of San Diego, will operate similarly to Bitar's, except the electrical charge will be created by an ultraviolet laser beam, rather than plasma. He, too, says the device is designed for non-lethal purposes only." (see Military embrace of 'non-lethal' energy weapons sparks debate )

So there are non-lethal weapons of war under development at this very moment, and perhaps one such weapon will be the fulfillment of the non-lethal "sting" of the "locusts" in John's prophecy.

We don't really know how the above prophecies will actually be fulfilled, but it certainly appears that John did an amazing job of describing modern warfare in the nuclear age, using images that he and his readers were familiar with. Would we have done any better in describing these things if we lived in the first century, before gunpowder was invented?

Another weapon in the nuclear age is the neutron bomb, which is intended to be "a weapon that killed by irradiation while sparing property" and is described as being "extremely destructive to living tissue" (see neutron bomb

). The prophet Zechariah described the Second Coming and some events that will happen just before the Second Coming, and notice what he described in Zechariah 14:12:

"This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." (Zechariah 14:12)

Zechariah saw people's flesh being destroyed while they were still standing on their feet, which is essentially the purpose of neutron bombs (destroying flesh but leaving buildings and infrastructure intact). Perhaps the Lord will supernaturally destroy the nations in the above verse, or perhaps He will destroy them through human weapons of war (as we see Him doing in the Old Testament). Time will tell.

We're living in the first time in history in which such descriptions of warfare could possibly be fulfilled. Considering all of the nuclear weapons in the world today, and considering the lawlessness and immorality that will be rampant during the seven-year Tribulation, can there be any doubt that nuclear war is inevitable?

Of course, it's possible that not all of these passages describe modern warfare in the nuclear age. Bible scholars have different opinions, and some of them believe that the above passages describe supernatural activity (by demons or by God) rather than human warfare. Still, most of these scholars seem to agree that a nuclear war during the Tribulation is a strong likelihood.

Sign #19 of 23

In sign #16 we saw that there will be great apostasy (a falling away from proper beliefs) in the end-times. The other side of that coin is that if you search online for "last-days revival," you'll find numerous websites and conferences and ministries devoted to preparing the Church (the body of Christ) for a future great revival in the end-times (the final years of the Church Age). In this article we've seen that we're in the end-times now, so if there will be a great last-days revival then it's likely to happen soon.

These websites and ministries typically point out that the Bible sometimes refers to "former rain" and "latter rain" (or similar concepts), as in these examples:

"Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign." (Exodus 4:8 NKJV)

"And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil." (Deuteronomy 11:13-14 NKJV)

"Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly." (Job 8:7 NKJV)

"The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys." (Job 42:12)

"They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."" (Jeremiah 5:24 NKJV)

"Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth." (Hosea 6:3 NKJV)

"Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you - The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month." (Joel 2:23 NKJV)

"'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts." (Haggai 2:9 NKJV)

"Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone." (Zechariah 10:1 NKJV)

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain." (James 5:7 NKJV)

In the above passages, sometimes we see indications that the latter thing will be even greater than the former thing. We also see that rain and water are often equated with God's blessings and His Spirit, and here are some more examples of that:

"The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." (Deuteronomy 11:10-12)

"Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." (Deuteronomy 32:1-2)

"The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest." (Isaiah 32:14-15)

"Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow." (Isaiah 35:6-7)

"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs." (Isaiah 41:17-18)

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen" (Isaiah 43:19-20)

"This is what the LORD says - he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams." (Isaiah 44:2-4)

""For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."" (Isaiah 55:8-11)

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." (Jeremiah 2:13)

"The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."" (John 4:9-14)

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." (John 7:37-39)

As we can see, rain and water are often equated with God's blessings, and in particular with His Spirit.

Notice that Hosea 6:3 NKJV (above) and James 5:7 NKJV (above) specifically say that the Lord comes to us as the former and latter rains. When Jesus came to earth as a baby, nothing happened ministry-wise for the first 30 years of His life (Luke 3:23), so His birth as a human baby (the First Coming) was not the Lord coming to us as the former rain. This implies that His return to the earth (the Second Coming) will not be the Lord coming to us as the latter rain. His coming to us as the former and latter rains in Hosea 6:3 NKJV and James 5:7 NKJV refers to something else.

On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Holy Spirit was "poured out" (Acts 2:17-18) onto the disciples because He is the "living water" (John 4:9-14, 7:37-39), and about 3,000 people received salvation that very day (Acts 2:41). This was the Lord coming to us as the former rain because rain and water are often equated with God's Spirit. There is only one God, and He exists in three divine Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, so where the Holy Spirit is, Jesus and the Father are there as well (see my article called Cheat Sheet #31).

The day of Pentecost was the birth of the church and the beginning of the Church Age, which is explained in detail in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One. Since Pentecost was the former rain, when the Lord sent His Spirit onto the first Christians of the Church Age in a powerful way, then the implication is that the Lord will send His Spirit onto the last Christians of the Church Age in a powerful way in a latter rain, even greater than the former rain. Recall that Jesus said, "whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these" (John 14:12).

So what will a latter rain look like?

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues (Acts 2:1-4), which was followed by powerful evangelism that resulted in roughly 3,000 people being saved that day (Acts 2:1-41), plus signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and many more people being saved after that (e.g., Acts 2:43, 47, and the rest of the book of Acts). That was the former rain.

Therefore, a latter rain at the end of the Church Age will have these same characteristics, even greater than in the first century. Throughout the book of Acts after the day of Pentecost, notice that the former rain was not characterized by emotions or believers flocking to the house where the original disciples received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. Yet when Christians think of revival today, they tend to think of people spending hours in a particular church or location, overcome with emotions, and multitudes of Christians flocking to that location to take part in the experience. In contrast, the former rain in the book of Acts was characterized by Christians going out into their communities and into the world, preaching the Gospel message with signs, wonders, miracles, and healings to confirm their teaching. This is what the latter rain will look like as well. The latter rain revival will not be what many Christians seem to be expecting and praying for.

Notice that shortly before the cross, Jesus prayed that all Christians would be brought to complete unity, and the apostle Paul spoke of the body of Christ growing and maturing until we reach unity in the faith:

"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:11)

"As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:18-23)

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:11-16)

The above passages say that Jesus prayed for us to be brought to complete unity so that we may be one just as the Father and the Son are one, and the apostle Paul expected us to work toward complete unity. Therefore, all Christians being in unity is very important to God, so we need to take the idea of being in unity very seriously.

For example, shortly after the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the disciples on the day of Pentecost, we see that the disciples were in unity ("with one accord") and that many people were being saved:

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47 NKJV)

Therefore, since Pentecost was the former rain, producing Christian unity, then we can expect that the latter rain will involve the Church growing into unity ("one accord" as in Acts 2:42-47, above), which is exactly what Jesus prayed for and Paul expected in the above passages. This unity from the latter rain will enable the Church to produce a great crop of people being saved at the end of the Church Age, shortly before the Rapture.

But if you think about it, Christian unity is a huge task that will have a huge world-wide impact. This is because the body of Christ is fractured into numerous divisions such as denominations, all of which disagree with each other in various areas of biblical doctrines, views, or practices.

If you search online for "how many Christian denominations," you'll find that there are hundreds or thousands of self-described Christian denominations. It's not always clear which person or group founded each denomination, but here are some examples that I found online:

The Baptist denomination was founded by John Smythe, so all Baptists are in effect saying, "I follow John Smythe's views."
The Lutheran denomination was founded by Martin Luther, so all Lutherans are in effect saying, "I follow Martin Luther's views."
The Methodist denomination was founded by John Wesley, so all Methodists are in effect saying, "I follow John Wesley's views."
The Presbyterian denomination was founded by John Knox, so all Presbyterians are in effect saying, "I follow John Knox's views."
The Seventh-day Adventist denomination was founded by James and Ellen White and Joseph Bates, so all Seventh-day Adventists are in effect saying, "I follow James and Ellen White's and Joseph Bates' views."
The Mennonite denomination was founded by Menno Simmons, so all Mennonites are in effect saying, "I follow Menno Simmons' views."
The Amish denomination was founded by Jacob Amman, so all Amish are in effect saying, "I follow Jacob Amman's views."
The Salvation Army denomination was founded by William Booth, so all Salvation Army church members are in effect saying, "I follow William Booth's views."

Again, I found this information online, and perhaps not everyone will agree with everything in the above list.

The purpose of the above list is simply to make the point that every denomination was founded by a person or group, and each denomination's members are followers of most or all of the views and practices of the person or group that established those denominations. For example, the denominational website for The United Methodist Church

refers to Methodists as "followers of John Wesley," and you can find similar statements at other denominational websites.

So what is God's perspective on denominations?

When the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he began his letter with greetings and thanksgiving, as he frequently did in his letters. Immediately after that, he launched into an urgent appeal for them to be perfectly united in mind and thought and to have no divisions among them:

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions [schisma] among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Paul then made it clear what he meant by "divisions":

"My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."" (1 Corinthians 1:11-12)

Sound familiar? The situation that we have today with denominations ("I follow John Smythe's views," or "I follow Martin Luther's views," or "I follow John Wesley's views," etc.) is exactly the situation that Paul denounced in the above passage, referring to those divisions as "quarrels."

Paul went on to say:

"Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:13)

The above questions are clearly intended to be answered with "no." Paul's point was that we're not meant to be followers of a person or group (such as being followers of Paul), and that Christ is not divided in any way (so the body of Christ should not be divided in any way).

Paul went on to say:

"I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name." (1 Corinthians 1:14-15)

Again, Paul didn't want anyone to have any reason to feel that they should be followers of Paul.

Later he wrote this to the Corinthian church:

"Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other." (1 Corinthians 4:6)

Again, Paul didn't want anyone to be followers of Paul or Apollos or anyone else (such as John Smythe, Martin Luther, John Wesley, or any other denominational founders).

He also wrote this to the Corinthian church:

"Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly - mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task." (1 Corinthians 3:1-5)

In the above passage, Paul said that if we follow this person's or that person's Christian views (such as the leaders of any denomination) then we are not living by the Spirit (i.e., we are not obeying God), but instead we are still worldly and we are mere infants in Christ. Clearly, separating ourselves into divisions (e.g., by being followers and members of any denomination) is not what God wants.

Later in 1 Corinthians Paul said:

"But God has put the body [of Christ] together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division [schisma] in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:24-27)

Once again, we see that God wants no division in the body of Christ.

Elsewhere in 1 Corinthians Paul said:

"In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions [schisma] among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences [hairesis] among you to show which of you have God's approval." (1 Corinthians 11:17-19)

In 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (above) and 11:17-19 (above), the Greek word schisma ("division") is the same word that Paul used earlier when he appealed to them to have no divisions among them (1 Corinthians 1:10, above). Here he said that he could barely believe that they were separating themselves, and that they were doing more harm than good.

In the above passage, the Greek word hairesis means:

"Heresy, a form of religious worship, discipline, or opinion...hairesis may represent a divergent opinion but still be part of a whole. One can hold different views than the majority and remain in the same body, but he is a heretic (hairetikos [G141]). However, when he tears himself away (schizo [G4977]), then he is schismatic. Heresy may lead to schism which is when actual tearing off and separation occur." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, hairesis)

So in 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (above) and 11:17-19 (above), Paul was once again denouncing the fact that some of them were separating themselves into divisions based on their different views. He essentially said that those who were not separating themselves showed that they had God's approval. We've seen that he made this same point over and over throughout the book of 1 Corinthians (denouncing them for separating themselves into divisions), so this is clearly a very important point.

It's such an important point, in fact, that Jesus and Paul and other New Testament authors repeatedly emphasized the dangers of divisions and factions, and the need for unity and oneness in the body of Christ:

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:14-16)

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." (Acts 4:32)

"Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion." (Romans 12:16 NKJV)

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6)

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." (Romans 16:17)

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11)

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:3-6)

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27)

"then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2)

"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord." (Philippians 4:2)

"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned." (Titus 3:9-11)

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;" (1 Peter 3:8 NKJV)

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." (2 Peter 2:1-2)

"These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." (Jude 1:19)

We can see that Jesus and Paul and other New Testament authors repeatedly emphasized the dangers of divisions and factions, and the need for unity and oneness in the body of Christ.

To further confirm this point, notice that the New Testament repeatedly tells us that there is one church, called "the body of Christ" and "the church" (not a collection of different denominations with conflicting or mutually exclusive views): Matthew 16:18, Acts 5:11, 20:28, 1 Corinthians 10:32, 11:22, 12:28, 15:9, Ephesians 1:22-23, 3:10, 5:23-32, Philippians 3:6, Colossians 1:18, 24, 1 Timothy 3:15.

Notice that the New Testament repeatedly refers to Christianity as "the faith" (not as a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive beliefs in different denominations): Matthew 24:10, Acts 6:7, 13:8, 14:22, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 1:23, 3:23, Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 1:25, 27, Colossians 2:7, 1 Timothy 1:2, 19, 3:9, 4:1, 6, 5:8, 6:10, 12, 21, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:13, Philemon 1:6, 1 Peter 5:9, Jude 1:3.

Notice that the New Testament repeatedly refers to Christianity as "the light" (not as a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive versions of "the light" in different denominations): Luke 16:8, John 1:4, 5, 3:20, 8:12, 9:5, 12:35, 36, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6, Ephesians 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:5, Hebrews 10:32, 1 John 1:7, 2:9, 10.

Notice that the New Testament repeatedly refers to Christianity as "the way" (not as a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive versions of "the way" in different denominations): Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14, Luke 20:21, John 14:6, Acts 9:2, 18:25, 26, 19:9, 23, 24:14, 22, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Ephesians 5:2, 2 Peter 2:2, 21.

Notice that the New Testament repeatedly says that Christianity contains "the truth" (not a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive versions of "the truth" in different denominations): Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14, Luke 20:21, John 3:21, 5:33, 8:32, 14:6, 17:17, Acts 20:30, 2 Corinthians 13:8, Galatians 2:5, 14, 5:7, Ephesians 4:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 12, 13, 1 Timothy 2:4, 3:15, 4:3, 2 Timothy 2:18, 25, 3:7, 8, 4:4, Titus 1:1, 14, Hebrews 10:26, James 3:14, 5:19, 1 Peter 1:22, 2 Peter 1:12, 1 John 2:21, 5:6, 2 John 1:1, 2, 4, 3 John 1:3, 4, 8, 12.

Notice that the New Testament repeatedly says that Christianity contains "the traditions" and "the teaching" (not a collection of conflicting or mutually exclusive traditions and teachings in different denominations): Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6, 2 Timothy 1:13-14.

Notice that the New Testament repeatedly commands us to avoid quarrels and controversies (which can lead to Christians separating into different denominations): Romans 14:1, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 3:3-4, 1 Timothy 1:3-7, 3:2-3, 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:14, 23-26, Titus 3:9-11, James 4:1-2.

As we can clearly see throughout the entire New Testament, Christianity has always been intended to consist of believers in unity with each other, never as a collection of divisions such as denominations.

To confirm even further how important this point is, notice what Jesus said:

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25)

The implications from these passages are huge. The New Testament clearly says that all Christians need to be in unity with each other, and it clearly denounces all divisions within Christianity such as denominations because a house divided against itself cannot stand.

As we saw in the bullet points earlier, all denominations are human inventions. God is not Baptist, God is not Lutheran, God is not Methodist, God is not Presbyterian, God is not Seventh-day Adventist, and so on. We can't say that God is all denominations because some denominations' views are mutually exclusive with other denominations' views. God is no denomination, as the above passages clearly show, and we are told to be non-denominational as well ("no divisions").

There will always be differences of opinion among Christians (e.g., different views on end-times prophecies), but if we label ourselves as being a member of one group or another then we're identifying with a division in violation of all of the above passages. For example, in my articles you can see that I agree with certain charismatic views (e.g., that all gifts of the Spirit are available today), but I don't label myself as a charismatic because that's a division within Christianity. We can hold various views without labeling ourselves as members of divisions or denominations that have those views.

If you consider yourself as a member of a denomination or other type of division within Christianity, then you're disobeying God. Instead, we all need to consider ourselves as non-denominational Christians rather than as Protestants, Baptists, Catholics, charismatics, cessationists, evangelicals, and so on. God wants us to go to a specific church, and if we're paying attention then He will lead us to it (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance).

In a latter rain, when we reach the unity that Jesus prayed for and Paul appealed to us to achieve (a unity that they had just after the former rain), then we will see one of two possibilities take place:

The first possibility is that somehow a last-days revival will cause all denominations to crumble and become a thing of the past, so that all Christians around the world are in unity and of one accord.
The second possibility is that a last-days revival will bring multitudes of Christians into unity with each other. But multitudes of other Christians will reject this revival, and most or all denominations will continue to exist against God's will.

Either way, a last-days revival will bring huge upheaval to Christianity around the world.

There's nothing in the Bible that gives any indication that the first possibility is likely to happen. Instead, the entire Bible is filled with examples of our natural human tendency to separate and divide and clash with each other (as in the above passages in 1 Corinthians). Therefore, the second possibility is far more likely than the first possibility.

Either way, rocky times are ahead.

We've seen that a last-days revival (the Lord coming to us as the latter rain) will involve signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and powerful evangelism, even greater than what happened after the day of Pentecost (when the Lord came to us as the former rain). Again, these events do not involve the Lord physically coming to the earth, these events are special outpourings of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a huge harvest of people being saved.

However, already there are Christian ministries and websites denouncing the idea of a last-days revival, and we're likely to see many more Christian leaders denouncing such a revival. Their view is based on these passages (and any similar passages):

"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."" (Matthew 24:3-14)

"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:21-24)

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10)

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth." (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

The above passages describe false messiahs, false prophets, false teachers, Christians being deceived and falling away from sound doctrine, and demonic signs and wonders. By lumping all of these passages together (and any similar passages), a number of Christians believe that any claims of a last-days revival with signs and wonders occurring will actually be the fulfillment of the above prophecies. This is why we're seeing Christian websites and Christian leaders denouncing the idea of a great last-days revival.

The problem with their view is that there are numerous prophecies throughout the Bible concerning the end-times, and in order to understand them correctly it's important to place them in the proper time frames. For example, some prophecies only apply during the time when the future Antichrist will be in power, and some prophecies only apply after the Second Coming (when Jesus returns to the earth), and other prophecies only apply in other time periods. Therefore, lumping all of the above passages together and assuming that they all apply to the same time period (shortly before the Rapture) is not the way to properly understand and apply end-times prophecies.

Matthew 24:3-14 (above) refers to false messiahs and false prophets and apostasy, which can happen at any time during the Church Age and has happened in our times (sign #16 specifically addresses apostasy in our times). In context, Matthew 24:21-24 (above) is specifically referring to the final 3.5 years before the Second Coming, which is covered in detail in my series called The Rapture of the Church. Therefore, it doesn't apply to a last-days revival during the Church Age because the Church (the body of Christ) will be removed from the earth before Matthew 24:21-24 (above) takes place (see the above series). In this article we've seen some things concerning the future seven-year Tribulation period (see the above series for more details), and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 (above) is referring to the Tribulation period and the Antichrist. That passage specifically says that the Antichrist and his demonic signs and wonders are being restrained until the one holding him back is taken out of the way. As the above series explains, every member of the Church has the indwelling Holy Spirit, meaning that God lives inside of each and every Christian. After the Church has been taken out of the way in the Rapture, only non-Christians will be left on the earth and evil will no longer be restrained. Then it will be time for the Antichrist to be revealed, along with his displays of demonic signs and wonders. This has no bearing on a last-days revival during the Church Age because the Church is still on the earth as a restraining force against the devil. The remaining two passages above (1 and 2 Timothy) are referring to Christians abandoning sound doctrine as we saw in sign #16 concerning the end-times apostasies that are now taking place.

What this means is that when people use the above passages (or any similar passages) to denounce a last-days revival, saying that it will be characterized by false prophets and demonic miracles, their view is based on a misunderstanding of end-times prophecies and where those prophecies fit into the overall scheme of God's plan. End-times prophecies tell us that there will be great apostasy and great revival in the future.

The former rain (on the day of Pentecost) was initiated by Jesus to begin the Church Age, and it involved signs, wonders, and miracles from God and multitudes receiving salvation. The full latter rain revival will likewise be initiated by Jesus to bring the Church Age to a close, and it will likewise involve signs, wonders, and miracles from God and multitudes receiving salvation. We're either with Jesus or against Jesus, and therefore the Christians who are on board with the last-days revival are the ones who have sound doctrine (because they are with Jesus). Notice what He said:

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matthew 12:30-32)

In the above passage, Jesus made it very clear that we need to be with Him and not against Him, and He made it very clear that when a miracle is done through the Holy Spirit, it is very dangerous for us to claim that it was a demonic miracle. As my article called The Second Coming describes, the Jewish leaders' "unpardonable sin" was a national sin and therefore many modern Bible scholars believe that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an individual sin that people can make today. It was a national sin which only applied to that generation of Jews who rejected Jesus as a nation. But Bible commentaries point out that by saying that a miracle of God was done by the devil or a demon, this is a direct insult against the Holy Spirit who did the miracle (e.g., Hebrews 10:29), and is a sin against the Spirit because "anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" (Matthew 12:30-32). Therefore, when God does a miracle then Christians who accuse the miracle of being demonic are speaking against the Holy Spirit and will not be forgiven (Matthew 12:30-32, above). This doesn't mean that they will lose their salvation; it means that they will be disciplined (perhaps severely) both in this life and in heaven (see my articles called Cheat Sheet #11, Cheat Sheet #12, and Cheat Sheet #13).

In fact, those who denounce the idea of a great future revival have overlooked or misunderstood a prophecy that will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period:

"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."" (Revelation 7:1-14)

The above passage says that during the Tribulation period (shortly before the Second Coming) there will be "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language" who will receive salvation. The above passage will take place after the Church Age is over, so it's not describing the latter rain revival, but it shows that there absolutely will be a great revival in the future.

Therefore, those who denounce the idea of a great revival in the future, saying that the end-times will be characterized by apostasy with no revival, are clearly and fundamentally mistaken. End-times prophecies tell us that there will be great apostasy and great revival in the future. These two opposing forces will cause great upheaval within Christianity around the world, revealing who is actually with Jesus (with revival) and who is against Jesus (against revival). Rocky times are ahead for the church.

Since the former rain on the day of Pentecost initiated the Church Age, it seems likely that the latter rain (the great last-days revival) will close out the Church Age, ending with the Rapture (see my series called The Rapture of the Church). The following passage is thoroughly examined in my series on the Rapture, and essentially it says that the Rapture and the Day of the Lord (beginning with the seven-year Tribulation period when God will pour out His wrath on the earth) will not take place until "the rebellion" occurs and the Antichrist is revealed:

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

My series on the Rapture (above) shows that the Antichrist will be revealed at the very beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period (the beginning of the Day of the Lord), and the above passage says that "the rebellion" (NIV) or "the falling away" (NKJV) will occur before the Tribulation period begins. Bible dictionaries and Bible commentaries point out that the Greek word for "rebellion" in this passage is where we get the English word "apostasy." As we saw in sign #16, there will be a great apostasy, a great rebellion or falling away from proper beliefs, before the Rapture and the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period (the period when the Antichrist will be in power). This means it will happen during the last part of the Church Age and will overlap the latter rain revival because the Church Age and the revival will end at the Rapture, when Jesus will "snatch up" all Christians (alive or dead) and take us into heaven. What we've seen is that the last-days revival will reveal who is actually with Jesus (with revival) and who is against Jesus (against revival). This great rebellion or falling away from proper beliefs (prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:10-13 and by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, above) is currently being fulfilled in large part by the multitudes of Christians who are already denouncing the idea of a great last-days revival.

Many (perhaps most) of those Christians believe that miracles, healings, and the so-called miraculous gifts of the Spirit ceased or died out during or shortly after the first century, but this form of last-days apostasy (known as cessationism) is thoroughly refuted in my article called All Gifts of the Spirit Are Available Today. The great rebellion or falling away from proper beliefs that was prophesied in the above passage began when pastors started teaching cessationism, which has its roots in Calvin and the Protestant Reformation (see Cessationism

).

In Israel, the yoreh rains (the early or former rains) signal the beginning of the rainy season, and the malkosh rains (the late or latter rains) come at the end of the rainy season just before the harvest is reaped:

"The word yoreh (or moreh) literally means "shoots", as well as "teacher", while the word malkosh is related to the Hebrew word mekoshesh (reaper). What do these literal translations teach about these time-bound rains? The Talmud (Ta'anit 6a) explains that yoreh falls at the beginning of the rainy season, thus it is called a "teacher" because it "teaches" people when to reinforce their roofs and bring their produce indoors to avoid possibly being destroyed by subsequent rains. Malkosh is the name given to rain which falls at the onset of spring (Pesach-time). Its name is related to the Hebrew word for reaping because malkosh falls near the harvest season, right before the produce is reaped." (Rain, Rain Come Again )

"the yoreh [former] rains are sent down to soften up the ground, ready for the first round of planting...The latter rains, malkosh, are much harder rains that would have just caused flooding and devastation if they had come earlier on the dusty, dry ground. But these latter Spring rains are essential for the agricultural cycle too...the latter downpours can more easily penetrate the softer ground and bring forth the second harvest in the Spring." (The former & latter rains in Israel )

So the former rain in Israel initiates the rainy season to soften the ground for the first round of planting, and the Hebrew word for it means "teacher." In exactly the same way, the former rain on the day of Pentecost initiated the Church Age, which involved the initial planting of the church and the beginning of Christian teaching. The latter rain in Israel closes out the rainy season, just before the harvest. In exactly the same way, the latter rain (the great last-days revival) will close out the Church Age (ending with the Rapture as we saw), and it will involve a huge harvest of new Christians.

According to websites such as the Revival Library

, pockets of revival have been breaking out in various parts of the world for approximately the past 300 years. The raindrops of the latter rain have begun to fall, which indicates that the great last-days revival and the Rapture and the end of the Church Age are very near.

Update on 07/19/2023: Many churches are voluntarily leaving their denominations or being forced to leave their denominations due to disagreements concerning women as pastors or LGBTQIA+ issues such as gays as pastors. For example:

"One fifth of the United Methodist congregations in the United States have left the denomination over the Church's growing openness toward LGBTQ members. Conservative congregations have launched a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church." (Methodist exodus: 6,000 members leave over LGBTQ issues )

"Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., recently ousted five churches across the U.S. because they allow women to serve as pastors - including Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of the convention's largest member churches.
The SBC's policies state, "While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."" (What's next for the Southern Baptist Convention after it ousted 5 woman-led churches? )

We've seen that the end-times will be characterized by both apostasy (falling away from proper beliefs) and revival, and we've seen that we're in the end-times right now. It would be easy to assume that since a number of churches and denominations are now allowing women and gays as pastors, this must be a clear sign of end-times apostasy. However, that assumption would only be true if the Bible forbids women and gays from being pastors.

My series called New Testament Passages Concerning Women shows that the New Testament does not forbid women from being pastors or holding any positions of leadership in a church or ministry, and my article called Homosexuality Is Not Always a Sin shows that the New Testament does not forbid people in the LGBTQIA+ community from being pastors or holding any positions of leadership in a church or ministry. Therefore, churches and denominations that are allowing women and people in the LGBTQIA+ community to be pastors and leaders are restoring proper biblical beliefs to the church, so they are examples of the raindrops that have begun to fall in the latter rain, the great last-days revival.

Update on 08/13/2023: In this article we've seen that 7 is a very important number throughout the Bible, and my article called Who Wrote the New Testament? shows that it's reasonable to conclude that Jesus' earthly ministry lasted for 7 years, ending with His death and resurrection. In addition, my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One shows that the Antichrist will be revealed almost immediately after the Rapture and that his activities will last for 7 years, ending with the Second Coming. If we imagine the great last-days revival lasting for a year or two, this just doesn't feel like enough time for it to have its full world-wide impact. If we imagine it lasting a decade or two, this feels like far more time than is needed. If we imagine it lasting for 7 years, ending with the resurrection of the dead at the Rapture (just as Jesus' earthly ministry appears to have lasted for 7 years, ending with His death and resurrection), this feels like the right amount of time for a revival to have its full world-wide impact and it fits nicely with other patterns of 7 days, 7 years, or 7,000 years throughout the Bible (for example, see sign #21). Time will tell.

Update on 06/28/2024: To get an idea of how close we might be to the Rapture, see the intended impact of my book.

Sign #20 of 23

After the books of Malachi and Nehemiah were written (the last Old Testament Scripture), the Jews had to wait approximately 430 years before the Messiah was born (as we'll see).

Why was there such a long delay between the last Old Testament books and the birth of Jesus?

Some authors suggest that after the Romans came to power they created much safer and more convenient traveling, which enabled the spread of the Gospel message, and this might be one reason for the delay until Jesus was born. God also needed a betrothed couple who would accept an out-of-wedlock pregnancy in order for the virgin birth to be possible, and perhaps such couples were few and far between because under certain circumstances the Law of Moses commanded that she must be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). We really don't know for certain why it took so long between the last Old Testament books and the birth of Jesus because the Bible doesn't clearly explain this long delay.

However, the length of this delay is part of an interesting pattern along with other periods of time recorded in the Bible:

Notice that Genesis 11 describes some very specific numbers of years after the Flood:
"This is the account of Shem's family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad...When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah...When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber...When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg...When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu...When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug...When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor...When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah...Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran...Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran." (Genesis 11:10-32)
The above passage says that Terah was the father of Abram, and Genesis 17:5 says that God changed Abram's name to Abraham. Adding up the very specific years in the above passage takes us 427 years from the Flood up to the death of Terah in Harran. After his father died, Abraham took his family to Canaan (Genesis 11:31-12:5), in an area later to be known as Israel :
"Then the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these charges true?" To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.' So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father [Terah], God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child."" (Acts 7:1-5)
They traveled through the land of Canaan for some period of time (Genesis 12:6), and then God appeared to Abraham, saying that He will give this land to Abraham's offspring (Genesis 12:7). In this covenant with Abraham, God promised physical and spiritual blessings to the Jews, and some of the blessings of this covenant also extend to Gentile Christians under the New Covenant, and this covenant is the basis for the coming of the Messiah (see my article called Covenants, Dispensations, and the Ten Commandments - Part One). God later confirmed this promise to Abraham in Genesis 13:14-17, then again in Genesis 15:1-21, then again in Genesis 17:1-21, and again in Genesis 22:15-18. Later, God confirmed this promise to Abraham's son Isaac in Genesis 26:1-5, then He confirmed the promise three times to Isaac's son Jacob in Genesis 28:10-14, 35:9-12 (changing Jacob's name to Israel), and Genesis 46:1-4. We'll look at this final confirmation of God's covenant with Abraham in a moment.

So the time period from the Flood up until Abraham received God's promise in the land of Canaan was approximately 430 years.
The Israelites (descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) lived in Egypt for 430 years:
"Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt." (Exodus 12:40-41)
After the Israelites were allowed to leave Egypt with Moses, God gave them the Law of Moses (430 years after God made some promises to Abraham):
"The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise." (Galatians 3:16-17)
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, then it took about 7 years for the conquest of Canaan before they were settled in the Promised Land (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Joshua 14:10).
After the Israelites had conquered the Promised Land, 430+ years went by until the building of the temple by King Solomon (1 Kings 6:1).
From the building of the temple by King Solomon until it was rebuilt under Zerubbabel after the Babylonian captivity was 430 years (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1 Kings 6:1).
God told the prophet Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days to bear the sin of Israel, then to lie on his right side for 40 days to bear the sin of Judah:
"Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel. After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year." (Ezekiel 4:4-6)
So Ezekiel was commanded to bear the sins of Israel and Judah for 390 days plus 40 days, one day for each year of their sins, which adds up to a total of 430 years of sins.
The prophet Daniel was given visions of the future, one of which included this statement:
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble." (Daniel 9:25)
My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Two thoroughly examines the above prophecy, and it shows that the "sixty-two sevens" is 434 years (62 times 7 years), which ended when Jesus officially entered Jerusalem as the Messiah. So once again we see a time period of 430+ years.
The book of Malachi (one of the last two Old Testament books) was written 430+ years before the birth of Christ:
"Most scholars agree that the Book of Malachi was written around 450-430 b.c." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Introduction to Malachi)
The book of Nehemiah (one of the last two Old Testament books) was written approximately 430 years before the birth of Christ:
"Nehemiah probably wrote the book that bears his name soon after all its events were completed. This means the book was written about 430 b.c. or shortly thereafter." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Introduction to Nehemiah)

It's difficult to believe that these similar periods of time are just random coincidences. But if God deliberately created this pattern in order to catch our eyes, then what would be the significance of these time periods?

God had planned everything out before the creation of the world (1 Peter 1:18-20, Revelation 13:8), so He knew how long it would take for each step of His plan to be carried out. In addition, He has hidden all kinds of information in the Bible using patterns and symbolism and parables and other figurative language (see my article called Understanding Jesus - Part Two). Therefore, it seems likely that there's something hidden for us to discover concerning this pattern of similar time periods.

By drawing our attention to these similar time periods, we see that from the Flood until God's covenant with Abraham (which was the basis for the coming of the Messiah) was about 430 years. From there until God's covenant with the Jews through Moses (which we call the Old Covenant) was 430 years. From the last two Old Testament books until Jesus was born (and then initiated the New Covenant at the cross) was approximately 430 years.

As explained in detail in my article called Covenants, Dispensations, and the Ten Commandments - Part One, the Abrahamic Covenant is primarily for the Jews (the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), and the Old Covenant was specifically for the Jews, and the New Covenant is specifically for the Jews (although non-Jews are able to share in some of the promises that God made to the Jews). That article also shows that Abraham's grandson Jacob (who was renamed to "Israel" in Genesis 35:10) was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel (later to be known as "Israelites" and "Jews"). In Genesis 46:1-4, God gave the final confirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant to Jacob/Israel, the father of the Jews. This took place while Jacob/Israel and his sons and their families were journeying to Egypt, which was around 1876 BC (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Genesis 47:28-31). This turns out to have a very interesting connection with end-times Bible prophecy.

At the top of this article we saw that WWI (1914-1918) was the sign that the end of the age has begun. We also saw that before this sign happened, there was an earlier end-times prophecy that began to be fulfilled around AD 1877 (see sign #4).

God knew that our modern Gregorian calendar would run from ancient times up to 1 BC, then from AD 1 up to modern times (there is no year 0), based on the assumed date of Jesus' birth (the actual time of His birth is described in my article called Who Wrote the New Testament?). God does not do things randomly or haphazardly, so the above time periods of 430+ years were not an accidental coincidence; they were meant to draw our attention. God intentionally put in the Bible that the period from the final confirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant up to 1 BC was the same length as the period from AD 1 up to the time when end-times prophecies would begin to be fulfilled, according to our modern calendar. This symmetry is a form of prophecy or foreshadowing that helps to explain why there was a delay of approximately 430 years between the end of Old Testament Scripture and Jesus' birth, because the division between BC and AD (creating the symmetry) is based on the assumed date of Jesus' birth.

This is one reason why Jesus' birth needed to be around 430 years after the Old Testament was completed, and the symmetry created by the assumed date of His birth (which our modern calendar is based on) confirms that we're in the end-times. In other words, the period from the final confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant (which was the basis for the coming of the Messiah) until the First Coming of the Messiah matches the period from His First Coming until the signs began that will lead up to His Second Coming. As we saw at the top of this article, the "birth pains" have begun. We're in "labor" right now. We're in the season of Jesus' return, and we've been in this season since about 1914. History as we know it is drawing to a close. Jesus will return for us at the end of the age, and therefore He is returning soon, possibly before you finish reading this article. Are you ready?

Sign #21 of 23

If you search online for "God's 7000 year plan" or "6000 year biblical timeline," you'll find numerous websites which show that:

From Adam to Abraham was about 2,000 years.
From Abraham to Jesus was about 2,000 years.
The Church Age has lasted for about 2,000 years.
After the Second Coming, Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years.

If all of these websites are correct, then humans have been on the earth for approximately 6,000 years since Adam.

This becomes interesting when we notice that both the Old and New Testaments relate a day with a thousand years:

"A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4)

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3:8)

Ancient Christian authors, dating back to around the first century AD, used the above passages to support their belief that human history will last for 6,000 years, followed by the Second Coming, followed by 1,000 years of peace and harmony. For example, see these Wikipedia articles: Millennial Day Theory

and Six Ages of the World

.

In addition, ancient Jewish scholars also used Psalm 90:4 (above) to support their belief that human history will last for 6,000 years, followed by 1,000 years of rest after Messiah comes. For example:

"The Talmud comments: R. Katina said, "Six thousand years the world will exist and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate (haruv), as it is written, 'And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day' (Isa. 2:11)"...R. Katina also taught, "Just as the seventh year is the Shmita year, so too does the world have one thousand years out of seven that are fallow (mushmat), as it is written, 'And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day' (Isa. 2:11); and further it is written, 'A psalm and song for the Shabbat day' (Ps. 92:1) - meaning the day that is altogether Shabbat - and also it is said, 'For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past' (Ps.90:4) (Sanhedrin 97a)."
The Midrash comments: Six eons for going in and coming out, for war and peace. The seventh eon is entirely Shabbat and rest for life everlasting.[5]
The Zohar explains: The redemption of Israel will come about through the mystic force of the letter "Vav" [which has the numerical value of six], namely, in the sixth millennium...Happy are those who will be left alive at the end of the sixth millennium to enter the Shabbat, which is the seventh millennium; for that is a day set apart for the Holy One on which to effect the union of new souls with old souls in the world (Zohar, Vayera 119a)." (Six Ages of the World )

"Traditional Judaism understands that the first 6,000 years is known as the present age/world (Olam Hazeh). These first 6,000 years are divided into three 2,000-year periods of time or ages. The first 2,000 years from the creation of Adam to the time of Abraham (Avraham) is known as the period/age of desolation (Tohu).
The next two thousand years from the time of Abraham to the expected arrival of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is known as the period/age of Torah. The final 2,000 years of time within the 6,000 years of the present/age world (Olam Hazeh) is known as the days of the Messiah (Yemot Mashiach). The last 1,000 years is known as the Messianic era or the future age/coming (Athid Lavo)." (The 7000 Year Plan of God )

"The rabbis of traditional Judaism understand that the God of Israel gave the seven days of creation in the book of Genesis as Torah/instruction to teach His people that there are 7,000 years of time from the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) to the end of the Messianic Age (Athid Lavo). Each day in creation represents 1,000 years in time. This is based upon connecting Psalm (Tehillim) 90:4 to the seven days of creation. In Psalm 90:4 it is written: "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."" (The 7000 Year Plan of God )

As we can see, ancient Christian authors as well as traditional Judaism believed that human history will last for 6,000 years after Adam, followed by 1,000 years of rest after Messiah comes.

The book of Genesis describes God creating the earth and all life on earth in 6 days and then resting on the 7th day. In this way, God was establishing a pattern that can be seen in other places in the Bible:

"When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites - the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey - you are to observe this ceremony in this month: For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders." (Exodus 13:5-7)

"Each morning everyone gathered as much [manna] as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much - two omers for each person - and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'" So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any." Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." So the people rested on the seventh day." (Exodus 16:21-30)

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)

"When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud." (Exodus 24:15-16)

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"" (Exodus 31:12-17)

"Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days." (Leviticus 8:33)

"[At Passover time] For six days eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day hold an assembly to the LORD your God and do no work." (Deuteronomy 16:8)

"Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets." (Joshua 6:1-4)

We can see that by describing 6 days for creating the heavens and the earth and then resting on the 7th day, God was establishing a pattern that He felt was extremely important. Bear in mind that the Bible is filled with patterns such as these and that God does not do things without a reason.

In sign #11 we saw that in the Bible, 7 is the number of perfection, and it was considered to be God's number. In contrast, 6 is the number of humankind because it falls short of the perfect number 7. That's how these numbers were symbolically used in biblical times, as most Bible commentaries point out.

Putting all of this information together reveals some other interesting patterns or foreshadowings. We saw that when God described working for 6 days of creation and then resting on the 7th day, ancient Christian authors as well as ancient Jewish scholars equated this with 6,000 years of human activity after Adam followed by 1,000 years of rest in the Messianic kingdom. This correlates with 6 being the human number, and 7 being Messiah's number (the perfect number of God).

So it was believed that 6 days can be equated with 6,000 years. In that sense, from Adam to Jesus was 4 days, meaning 4,000 years as we saw above. With that in mind, notice that Jesus is referred to as our Passover lamb, without blemish or defect, that was chosen before the creation of the world:

"Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7)

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:18-20)

This means that for the entire 4,000 years (4 days) of human existence from Adam up to the cross, Jesus was always the chosen lamb to be sacrificed. Notice how this is precisely foreshadowed by the Passover lambs that the Israelites were commanded to slaughter:

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs."" (Exodus 12:1-7)

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the regulations for the Passover meal: No foreigner may eat it. Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him, but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it. It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones."" (Exodus 12:43-46)

The above passages say that the Israelite families were commanded to choose a Passover lamb, a male without defect, on the 10th day of the month, and then slaughter it at twilight on the 14th day of the month (4 days later) without breaking any of its bones.

It's interesting that God specifically commanded that the Passover lambs be chosen 4 days before they were sacrificed (Exodus 12:1-7, above). There's nothing in the context of that passage, nor anywhere else in the Bible, nor in Bible commentaries

, that gives any reason for this 4-day waiting period. As far as anyone can tell, the only purpose for the 4-day period before sacrificing the original Passover lambs was that it prophetically foreshadowed Jesus because Jesus was the chosen Passover lamb for the 4-day period (4,000 years of human existence since Adam) before He was sacrificed on the cross.

Concerning "twilight" in Exodus 12:1-7 (above), this is what some Bible commentaries say:

"keep it up until the fourteenth day, etc. - Being selected from the rest of the flock, it was to be separated four days before sacrifice; and for the same length of time was Christ under examination and His spotless innocence declared before the world.
kill it in the evening - that is, the interval between the sun's beginning to decline, and sunset, corresponding to our three o'clock in the afternoon." (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Exodus 12:6)

"The animal was to be a one-year-old male without blemish. Four days later (on the 14th) each animal was to be killed at twilight. This meant either between sunset and dark or between 3 and 5 p.m. The latter time period is probably correct because it would allow more time for slaughtering and preparing the animal, which would be needed later when many sacrifices would be offered at the sanctuary." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Exodus 12:6)

"It is worthy of remark that God sets no particular hour for the killing of the passover: any time between the two evenings, i.e., between twelve o'clock in the day and the termination of twilight, was lawful...By this time of the day God foreshowed the sufferings of Christ in the evening of times or in the last days, Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:19-20: and about the same time of the day, when the paschal lamb ordinarily died, HE died also, viz., at the ninth hour; Matthew 27:46-50." (Adam Clarke Commentary, Exodus 12:6)

"In the evening - The Hebrew has between the two evenings. The meaning of the expression is disputed. The most probable explanation is that it includes the time from afternoon, or early eventide, until sunset. This accords with the ancient custom of the Hebrews, who killed the paschal lamb immediately after the offering of the daily sacrifice, which on the day of the Passover took place a little earlier than usual, between two and three p.m. This would allow about two hours and a half for slaying and preparing all the lambs. It is clear that they would not wait until sunset, at which time the evening meal would take place. The slaying of the lamb thus coincides exactly with the death of our Saviour, at the ninth hour of the day Matthew 27:46." (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible, Exodus 12:6)

Based on the Hebrew meaning of twilight (above), notice even further how Jesus' death is precisely foreshadowed by the Passover lambs that the Israelites were commanded to slaughter:

"At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last." (Mark 15:33-37)

"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"" (John 19:31-36)

In human terms, Jesus was a male without defect (because He had no sin), and the above passages say that He was sacrificed at twilight, dying at 3pm, and that none of His bones were broken. This is exactly what we saw in the above passages concerning the original Passover lambs (Exodus 12:1-7 and 12:43-46).

What we've seen is that Jesus is our Passover lamb, and His death was perfectly foreshadowed by the original Passover lambs. Jesus was the chosen Passover lamb for the 4 days (4,000 years) of human existence since Adam before He was sacrificed, just as the original Passover lambs were chosen 4 days before they were sacrificed.

This gives us a direct correlation between 4,000 years and 4 days.

Not only were the 6 days of creation intended to establish a pattern as we saw earlier, but in addition there are passages in which we're told that the Lord revealed Himself and His glory after 6 days:

"When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud." (Exodus 24:15-16)

"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 16:28-17:2)

We've seen that God established a pattern in which He described working for 6 days and resting on the 7th day, and He told the Israelites to work for 6 days and rest on the 7th day, and He decreed that the 7th day was "a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD" (Exodus 16:21-30, 20:8-11, 31:12-17, above). Following this same pattern, the above passages describe God deliberately revealing Himself and His glory after 6 days.

In all of these passages, God is making it clear that there is something significant for us to know about 6 days followed by a special and holy 7th day. The correlation of 1 day with 1,000 years implies that there will be 6,000 years of human work (since Adam) on the earth, followed by a special and holy 1,000 years. My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One explains that after the Second Coming (when the entire world will see Jesus returning "on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory" - Matthew 24:30), Jesus will reign on earth in a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and prosperity for 1,000 years. My article called What Will Happen after the Second Coming? describes what life will be like during Jesus' 1,000-year reign on earth, based on prophecies throughout the Bible.

So the Lord absolutely will reveal His glory and initiate a special and holy 1,000 years sometime in the future, which gives us further reason for understanding the above pattern of 6 days as prophetically foreshadowing 6,000 years of human work since Adam, followed by the Lord revealing His glory after the 6,000 years.

This pattern of 6 days of work followed by resting in the 7th day is also used in terms of 6 years of work followed by resting in the 7th year, as in these examples:

"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything." (Exodus 21:2)

"The LORD said to Moses at Mount Sinai, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.'"" (Leviticus 25:1-4)

"If any of your people - Hebrew men or women - sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free." (Deuteronomy 15:12)

In addition, we also find a pattern in which 2 days are followed by something special in the 3rd day, as in these examples:

"And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people."" (Exodus 19:10-11)

"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence." (Hosea 6:1-2)

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Matthew 16:21)

"At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'"" (Luke 13:31-32)

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."" (John 11:5-7)

In Exodus 19:10-11 (above), we see that the Lord will come down on the 3rd day. In Hosea 6:1-2 (above), we see that on the 3rd day the Lord "will restore us, that we may live in his presence." In Matthew 16:21 (above), Jesus said that He would be resurrected on the 3rd day after being killed. In Luke 13:31-32 (above), Jesus said that He will keep healing people for 2 days, and on the 3rd day He will "reach my goal," which might have a local application as a prophecy of His resurrection on the 3rd day, but as we'll see in the next paragraph, it might also have a larger prophetic application. In John 11:5-7 (above), Jesus deliberately delayed for 2 days before leaving on the 3rd day to resurrect Lazarus. These are some examples that God has given us in which something special or significant happened on the 3rd day.

Consider that the church has now been on the earth for almost 2,000 years after the cross, which equates to the last 2 days on the 6-day timeline. After these 2 days, on the 3rd day the Lord will return at the Second Coming and we will then live in His presence. Since the Church (the body of Christ) is made up of the consecrated people of God, and since Jesus is still healing people through Christians who will step out in faith (see the free PDF of my book called Divine Healing Absolutely Is for Today), and since we will be raised up and resurrected and live with Jesus after He leaves heaven and returns at the end of the Church Age (see my series called The Rapture of the Church), the above passages correlate perfectly with the 2,000 years of the Church Age. This gives us even further confirmation that the pattern of 6 days of work followed by 1 day of rest is a prophetic foreshadowing of 6,000 years of human work (since Adam) followed by 1,000 years of peace and harmony on the earth after the Second Coming.

If you search online for "God's 7000 year plan" or "6000 year biblical timeline," you'll find a number of other passages that fit the above patterns. These passages all demonstrate that God has placed very definite patterns throughout the Bible to catch our eye, which indicate that humans will be on the earth for 6,000 years from Adam until the time when the Lord returns to initiate the final 1,000 years of God's plan.

As we saw, the first 4,000 years took us from Adam to Jesus. It has now been almost 2,000 years since the cross and the beginning of the Church Age, so the 6,000 years of human activity from Adam to the Second Coming are close to being completed.

Jesus had said that He will be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40), and He said that after His death "three days later he will rise" (Mark 10:33-34). He died on the cross at about 3pm (Mark 15:34-37) on a Friday (most likely April 3, AD 33 - see my article called Who Wrote the New Testament?), and at least two women saw the resurrected Jesus around dawn on the following Sunday (Matthew 28:1-10).

Since Jesus was not literally in the tomb for 3 full days and nights (see my article above), this indicates that time periods in the Bible are not always meant to be interpreted as precise lengths of time. As a number of Bible commentaries

point out (search for "part of" at that link), a part of a day is sometimes counted as a full day in the Bible.

Therefore, we can't pinpoint a specific date when the 2,000 years of the Church Age will be completed, partly because there's no reason to assume that it will be precisely 2,000 years (a portion of a day can count as a full day), and partly because we don't know if the 2,000 years of the Church Age should be based on the Gregorian calendar

or the Jewish calendar

.

But it's clear that the 6,000 years are close to being completed. Jesus is returning very soon for the final 1,000 years.

Sign #22 of 23

My article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Three describes the 21 judgments of God's wrath (the Seal Judgments, Trumpet Judgments, and Bowl Judgments) that will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period. Notice what will happen at the fourth Bowl Judgment:

"The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him." (Revelation 16:8-9)

In this judgment of God's wrath, the heat from the sun is intensified somehow so that it scorches people. One possibility for this intensified heat is that a number of "climate tipping points" are currently in danger of being triggered, such as the loss of much of the Amazon rainforest, the thawing of permafrost peatlands in northern Europe and Siberia, and the collapsing of ice sheets around the world. When these tipping points are reached then these systems will collapse and will not be able to bounce back. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere, dramatically increasing global temperatures (and likely triggering the tipping points in other systems). For example:

"The Amazon rainforest is moving towards a "tipping point" where trees may die off en masse, say researchers.
A study suggests the world's largest rainforest is losing its ability to bounce back from damage caused by droughts, fires and deforestation.
Large swathes could become sparsely forested savannah, which is much less efficient than tropical forest at sucking carbon dioxide from the air.
The giant forest traps carbon that would otherwise add to global warming.
But previous studies have shown that parts of the Amazon are now emitting more carbon dioxide than can be absorbed.
"The trees are losing health and could be approaching a tipping point - basically, a mass loss of trees," said Dr Chris Boulton of the University of Exeter...
"The Amazon stores lots of carbon and all of that would be released into the atmosphere, which would then further contribute to increasing temperatures and have future effects on global mean temperatures," Dr Boulton said" (Amazon rainforest reaching tipping point, researchers say )
"Global warming is pushing frozen peatlands in northern Europe and Siberia to the brink of a tipping point which could release 39 billion tonnes of carbon, researchers have warned...The peatlands store twice as much carbon as all of Europe's forests but the climate crisis means these critical ecosystems are even closer to collapse than previously thought, researcher [sic] said...When permafrost thaws the organic matter stored within them starts to decompose, releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which increase global temperatures and potentially accelerate the climate crisis." (Thawing permafrost peatlands 'on the precipice' of releasing billions of tonnes of carbon )
"Climate tipping points (CTPs) are a source of growing scientific, policy, and public concern. They occur when change in large parts of the climate system - known as tipping elements - become self-perpetuating beyond a warming threshold. Triggering CTPs leads to significant, policy-relevant impacts, including substantial sea level rise from collapsing ice sheets, dieback of biodiverse biomes such as the Amazon rainforest or warm-water corals, and carbon release from thawing permafrost...Observations have revealed that parts of the West Antarctic ice sheet may have already passed a tipping point...Recent work has suggested that up to 15 tipping elements are now active...Current global warming of ~1.1 degrees C above pre-industrial already lies within the lower end of five CTP uncertainty ranges. Six CTPs become likely (with a further four possible) within the Paris Agreement range of 1.5 to <2 degrees C warming, including collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, die-off of low-latitude coral reefs, and widespread abrupt permafrost thaw. An additional CTP becomes likely and another three possible at the ~2.6 degrees C of warming expected under current policies." (Exceeding 1.5 degrees C global warming could trigger multiple climate tipping points )

The climate change described in the above articles as well as human consumption are contributing to a mass extinction of plants and animals:

"In 1970, the planet's 3 and a half billion people were sustainable. But on this New Year's Day [2023], the population is 8 billion. Today, wild plants and animals are running out of places to live...the Earth is suffering a crisis of mass extinction on a scale unseen since the dinosaurs...A World Wildlife Fund study says that in the past 50 years, the abundance of global wildlife has collapsed 69%...Too many people, too much consumption and growth mania...humanity is not sustainable. To maintain our lifestyle (yours and mine, basically) for the entire planet, you'd need five more Earths...The rate of extinction is extraordinarily high now and getting higher all the time...Barnosky's research suggests today's rate of extinction is up to 100 times faster than is typical in the nearly 4 billion year history of life...What we will have to do is to really understand that the climate change and the species extinction is a threat to humanity...I [Paul Ehrlich] and the vast majority of my colleagues think we've had it; that the next few decades will be the end of the kind of civilization we're used to...We're already consuming 175% of what the Earth can regenerate" (Scientists say planet in midst of sixth mass extinction, Earth's wildlife running out of places to live )

According to the above article (from 1/1/2023), a number of researchers believe that climate change, human consumption, and the extinction of numerous plant and animal species are a threat to humanity within the next few decades.

As one of the above articles (from 9/9/2022) points out, global warming is currently at ~1.1 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature and is expected to reach ~2.6 degrees C of warming. According to that article, when we reach 1.5 degrees C of global warming then this could trigger multiple climate tipping points, causing systems to collapse with no ability to bounce back. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere, dramatically increasing global temperatures and killing off more species of plants and animals.

Update on 08/27/2023: The above paragraph says that reaching 1.5 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature could trigger multiple climate tipping points, causing systems to collapse with no ability to bounce back. We have now hit 1.68 degrees C at least once:

"in June [2023], the surface temperature in the North Atlantic reached the maximum increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius with respect to preindustrial values...On Thursday, July 6 [2023], the global air temperature (measured at two meters above the ground) reached 17.23 degrees Celsius for the first time in the history of the last centuries, 1.68 degrees Celsius higher than preindustrial values...the annual report of the World Meteorological Organization...released in May 2023 warned that it is very likely (66 percent probability) that the annual average global temperature will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius in at least one year of the next five years (2023-2027), it is possible (32 percent probability) that the average temperature will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius, and it is almost certain (98 percent probability) that at least one of the next five years, as well as the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record; The IPCC has estimated serious consequences if this temperature is exceeded permanently." (The Eco Collapse We Were Warned About Has Begun , emphasis added)

Update on 11/01/2023: An article dated 10/24/2023 says that we went over 1.5 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature on 38 days so far this year, and two more recent articles say that an alarming and unprecedented series of escalating global temperatures and climate records being broken this year has shocked even the scientists who were warning of it for years:

"so far in 2023, there have been 38 days with global average temperatures more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels." (Climate scientists warn Earth systems heading for 'dangerous instability' )

"something has definitely happened in the past year or so that has pushed our atmosphere's state of equilibrium out of an older, stable range and into a newer, warmer, and apparently far less stable state.
It's so dramatic and so shocking that scientists - typically not prone to hyperbole - publishing in the peer-reviewed journal BioScience about this anomaly open their article with:
"Life on planet Earth is under siege. We are now in an uncharted territory.
"For several decades, scientists have consistently warned of a future marked by extreme climatic conditions because of escalating global temperatures caused by ongoing human activities that release harmful greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
"Unfortunately, time is up. We are seeing the manifestation of those predictions as an alarming and unprecedented succession of climate records are broken, causing profoundly distressing scenes of suffering to unfold. We are entering an unfamiliar domain regarding our climate crisis, a situation no one has ever witnessed firsthand in the history of humanity."
Looking at 35 different "vital signs" that signal the health of our planet and its atmosphere, 20 of which have deviated from their norms so badly as to alarm researchers, the scientists who wrote for BioScience warn us all:
"We are venturing into uncharted climate territory."...
While nobody is exactly sure why we've hit this year of sudden anomalies, scientists are certain it's a blinking red neon warning that we must change our course or suffer an unimaginable catastrophe. And we still have the tools to solve this crisis of our own making: we just have to use them before it's too late." (America mysteriously hit a deadly tipping point - and no one knows why )

"Dr Shaina Sadai, of the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US, said: "This year has been disturbing with the severe, unrelenting and record-breaking heat, but it is in line with what climate scientists and climate models have long predicted."
"The temperature increase has particularly accelerated since about the 1960s [as emissions accelerated] and is continuing to rise steadily," said Prof Jana Sillmann, of Hamburg University in Germany...
The current level of extreme weather impacts boded ill for the future as emissions continued to be pumped into the atmosphere, the scientists said. "Unfortunately, these new records will not last. Global warming will push records into the unknown sooner rather than later," said Dr Raul Cordero, until recently at the University of Santiago, Chile...
Many of the scientists were blunt about our future prospects. Prof Natalie Mahowald, of Cornell University, US, said: "What we are seeing this year is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, of what we expect to happen." Meinshausen said: "If we do not halt global warming soon, then the extreme events we see this year will pale against the ones that are to come."...
"The impacts are frighteningly more impactful than I - and many climate scientists I know - expected," said Prof Krishna AchutaRao, of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Prof Francisco Eliseu Aquino, of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, said: "I have also been scared by these extreme events in the last weeks and months. They are more intense and going beyond what we expected for this decade."...
Others thought the extreme weather events were mostly within the realm of predicted impacts, but were still stunned. "Some of the extreme events, such as heatwaves on land and in the oceans, have been pretty shocking even for the scientists who have been expecting this to some extent," said Prof Andrea Dutton, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US." ('Off-the-charts records': has humanity finally broken the climate? )

Update on 04/17/2024: Here are quotes from a couple of articles in April, 2024:

"Global surface temperatures in March were 0.1 degrees Celsius higher than the previous record for the month, set in 2016, and 1.68C higher than the pre-industrial average, according to data released on Tuesday by the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
This is the 10th consecutive monthly record in a warming phase that has shattered all previous records. Over the past 12 months, average global temperatures have been 1.58 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels." (As Monthly Heat Records Tumble, Scientists Are Increasingly Alarmed , emphasis added)

"Our rapidly heating planet is regularly shattering records these days. December through February was so warm - in fact, the hottest winter on record in the U.S. - it's been described by some climate experts as a "lost winter." Last year also set new records for global surface temperature, hottest summer and ocean heat content. Perhaps most ominously, the world averaged temperatures 1.4º C higher than pre-industrial levels during those 12 months.
Now the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service revealed that March 2024 was 1.68º C warmer than pre-industrial times, prompting one NASA scientist (Dr. Gavin A. Schmidt) to warn the BBC that humanity is now in "uncharted territory." This is the tenth month in a row to be the warmest on record for its respective month of the year." ("Borrowed time": As we shatter temperature records, experts worry we're in "uncharted territory" , emphasis added)

Update on 07/13/2024: We have now reached 1.5 degrees C above the pre-industrial temperature for 12 months in a row. Here's a quote from an article in July, 2024:

"Recent data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reveals that June 2024 is the 12th consecutive month where global temperatures have reached 1.5°C above pre-industrial averages.
Over the past 12 months (July 2023 - June 2024), the global average surface temperature has hit record highs, peaking at 0.76°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.64°C above the pre-industrial average (1850-1900).
Notably, on some days in November 2023 and again in February 2024, temperatures likely surged to +2°C above pre-industrial levels.
This latest data follows a scorching 2023, confirmed as the warmest year globally - a record projected to be surpassed before the decade's end, according to analysis by the UK's Meteorological Office...
Commenting on the latest data, C3S Director Carlo Buontempo said the news was shocking but not surprising.
"June marks the 13th consecutive month of record-breaking global temperatures, and the 12th in a row [they have reached] 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures. This is more than a statistical oddity," he stressed." (Global temperatures pass the 1.5°C pre-industrial threshold for 12 months in a row , emphasis added)

We appear to be very close to triggering those climate tipping points (and some might have already been triggered according to some of the above quotes), which could easily be the fulfillment of the prophecy in Revelation 16:8-9 (above) concerning the heat from the sun being intensified. It might not be that the sun itself is somehow intensified, but rather that its effect on earth is intensified.

On the other hand, something appears to be happening to the sun itself. An article in August, 2023, entitled "Three Terrifying Signs Our Sun Is In Big Trouble," describes three concerning anomalies in the sun:

"The Sun Is Strangely Heating Up
...Recent anomalies in solar activity have taken scientists by surprise, as forecasts had pegged the sun's peak of maximum activity, or "solar maximum," for 2025.
However, current indications suggest it could occur as early as 2024. The unpredictability extends to the observation of sunspots and the subsequent events they may trigger.
As the sun enters this intense heating phase, an increase in solar flares and coronal mass ejections is expected, potentially offering beautiful atmospheric light shows but also posing risks to our technological infrastructure.
It's Shining A Totally Different Light
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered an unexpectedly high number of super energetic gamma rays emanating from the sun, as reported by Futurism...
While the theory of the sun emitting gamma rays dates back to the 1990s, the team's collection of data from 2015 to 2021 initially seemed erroneous due to the overwhelming brightness and amount of the rays.
Concurrently, the sun's unpredictable behavior continues, with recent observations suggesting that it might reach its solar maximum, a peak in its 11-year activity cycle, in 2024 instead of the previously predicted 2025.
This heightened activity, along with the newfound knowledge about gamma rays, indicates that our understanding of the sun is ever-evolving, with potential impacts on Earth's satellite communications and electrical grids...
Geomagnetic Storms Are Increasing
...scientists have noted an alarming uptick in the sun's geomagnetic storms ahead of its anticipated peak activity in 2025. While this intensified solar activity often translates into stunning visual displays like the Aurora Borealis, it also presents potential hazards." (Three Terrifying Signs Our Sun Is In Big Trouble )

Update on 04/11/2023: A moment ago we saw what will happen at the fourth Bowl Judgment, and notice what will happen at the sixth Bowl Judgment:

"The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East." (Revelation 16:12)

So the Euphrates river will dry up, which is already happening (in part due to climate change):

"Together with the Tigris, the Euphrates carves through present-day Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. For thousands of years, the twin rivers have allowed farming communities and grand cities to flourish in Mesopotamia, which is considered the cradle of some of the world's earliest civilizations.
However, for several decades, it's become increasingly apparent that the Tigris-Euphrates river system is drying out. A government report in 2021 warned that the rivers could run dry by 2040 due to declining water levels and droughts driven by climate change...
The strain is already starting to show, but a total collapse of the river system would spell disaster for the region. Millions of people across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq rely on the Tigris-Euphrates for water. As the rivers start to struggle, international disputes over access to water are already heating up. These arguments have also prevented governments from effectively reaching any solution to the problem." (Euphrates River Is Drying Up And Crisis Looms, Just As The Bible Warned )

Update on 11/03/2023: We've seen what will happen during two of the 21 judgments of God's wrath (the fourth Bowl Judgment and the sixth Bowl Judgment) during the seven-year Tribulation period, which are described in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Three. Notice what will happen during several more of these 21 judgments of God's wrath:

"I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place." (Revelation 6:12-14)

"The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"" (Revelation 8:12-13)

"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss." (Revelation 9:1-2)

"The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness." (Revelation 16:10)

In each of the above judgments of God's wrath, we see thick smoke or darkness, sometimes accompanied by a great earthquake. We don't know yet what will cause these events (nuclear war and electrical blackouts are possibilities), but recent articles online say that two super-volcanoes are starting to show signs that they might erupt soon (with a great earthquake and thick plumes of smoke), as in this example:

"The Italian government is planning for a possible evacuation of more than 300,000 people due to a nearby dormant super volcano showing signs of an eruption - one month after American researchers found one rumbling in the US.
Campo Flegrei, west of Naples, has experienced more than 2,500 earthquakes in the past three months, with the largest hitting a 4.0 magnitude, which is a similar scenario that led to its 1583 eruption.
Scientists have predicted that if this sleeping giant blows, it could create a plum[e] large enough to plunge Earth into a global winter for years.
The warning comes months after California researchers detected more than 2,000 earthquakes rumbling through the state's Long Valley Caldera that they said 'are precursors of an eruption.'" (Now scientists say a SECOND super-volcano is poised to blow: Warning over Italy's Campi Flegrei comes after experts said Long Valley Caldera in California could erupt )

Another one of the 21 judgments of God's wrath is that during the seven-year Tribulation period, one-fourth of the earth will be killed, partly by plagues:

"When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:7-8)

The Greek word for "plague" in Revelation 6:8 (above) is frequently used for death throughout the New Testament, but it also means "plague or pestilence":

"Plague or pestilence (Sept.: Exodus 5:3; Exodus 9:3, Exodus 9:15; see Matthew 24:7). Thanatos is joined with limos (G3042), famine (Revelation 6:8 [cf. Ezekiel 14:21])." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, thanatos, emphasis added)

With that in mind, another consequence of climate change is that the Arctic and Siberian permafrost (permanently frozen ground) is thawing. This is not only releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, further enhancing the greenhouse effect, but it's also releasing viruses (plagues or pestilences as in Revelation 6:8, above):

"The thawing of the permafrost also threatens to unlock disease-causing bacteria and viruses long trapped in the ice.
There have already been some cases of this happening.
In 2016 a child died in Russia's far northern Siberia in an outbreak of anthrax that scientists said seemed to have come from the corpses of infected reindeers buried 70 years before but uncovered by melting permafrost.
Released from the ice, the anthrax seems to have been passed to grazing herds.
Scientists have also warned that other dormant pathogens entombed in frozen soil may be roused by global warming, such as from old smallpox graves." (As Permafrost Melts It's Unleashing Ancient Viruses, Carbon - And Now Fuel Spills )

"That amoeba-infecting viruses are still infectious after so long is indicative of a potentially bigger problem, Claverie said. He fears people regard his research as a scientific curiosity and don't perceive the prospect of ancient viruses coming back to life as a serious public health threat.
"We view these amoeba-infecting viruses as surrogates for all other possible viruses that might be in the permafrost," Claverie told CNN.
"We see the traces of many, many, many other viruses," he added. "So we know they are there. We don't know for sure that they are still alive. But our reasoning is that if the amoeba viruses are still alive, there is no reason why the other viruses will not be still alive, and capable of infecting their own hosts."...
Traces of viruses and bacteria that can infect humans have been found preserved in permafrost.
A lung sample from a woman's body exhumed in 1997 from permafrost in a village on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska contained genomic material from the influenza strain responsible for the 1918 pandemic. In 2012, scientists confirmed the 300-year-old mummified remains of a woman buried in Siberia contained the genetic signatures of the virus that causes smallpox.
An anthrax outbreak in Siberia that affected dozens of humans and more than 2,000 reindeer between July and August in 2016 has also been linked to the deeper thawing of the permafrost during exceptionally hot summers, allowing old spores of Bacillus anthracis to resurface from old burial grounds or animal carcasses." (Scientists have revived a 'zombie' virus that spent 48,500 years frozen in permafrost )

"The thawing of the permafrost due to climate change may expose a vast store of ancient viruses, according to a team of European researchers, who say they have found 13 previously unknown pathogens that had been trapped in the previously frozen ground of Russia's vast Siberian region.
The scientists found one virus that they estimated had been stranded under a lake more than 48,500 years ago, they said, highlighting a potential new danger from a warming planet: what they called "zombie" viruses.
The same team of French, Russian and German researchers previously isolated ancient viruses from the permafrost and published their findings in 2015. This concentration of fresh viruses suggests that such pathogens are probably more common in the tundra than previously believed, they suggest in a study published last month in Viruses, a scientific journal...
The risks from viruses pent up in the Arctic are worth monitoring, several scientists said. Smallpox, for example, has a genetic structure that can hold up under long-term freezing, and if people stumble upon the defrosted corpses of smallpox victims, there is a chance they could be infected anew. Other categories of virus - such as the coronaviruses that cause covid-19 - are more fragile and less likely to survive the deep freeze.
"In nature we have a big natural freezer, which is the Siberian permafrost," said Paulo Verardi, a virologist who is the head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science at the University of Connecticut. "And that can be a little bit concerning," especially if pathogens are frozen inside animals or people, he said.
But, he said, "if you do the risk assessment, this is very low," he added. "We have many more things to worry about right now."" ('Zombie' viruses are thawing in melting permafrost because of climate change )

"Permafrost is ideal for preserving viruses. A 2021 study found that a single gram of permafrost was home to thousands of species of sleeping microbes, as Bloomberg reported. That means any number of ancient diseases could be lurking beneath the ice.
Because these diseases are so old, humans likely have no immunity or drug treatments to combat them. The risk of a pandemic posed by ancient diseases is considered low, but scientists still believe it's an important possibility to consider.
Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie told Bloomberg, "We realize there might be some danger coming from the north as the permafrost thaws and frees microbes, bacteria and viruses."
"If Neanderthals died of an unknown viral disease and this virus resurfaces, it could be a danger to us," Claverie added." (Scientists fear rising temperatures may release ancient threat from siberian permafrost: 'It could be a danger to us' )

All of these judgments of God's wrath will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period after the Antichrist comes onto the scene, but we're already possibly seeing a build-up to the ultimate fulfillment of those prophecies. This build-up indicates that those prophecies could easily be fulfilled in the very near future.

Sign #23 of 23

In sign #22 we saw what will happen at the fourth and sixth Bowl Judgments during the seven-year Tribulation period. Notice what will happen at the sixth Seal Judgment during the seven-year Tribulation period:

"I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"" (Revelation 6:12-17)

The above passage says that during the Tribulation period, at some point the heavens will recede like a scroll being rolled up, and in sign #18 we saw that this is a good description of a mushroom cloud from a nuclear detonation (from a first-century person's point of view). The passage then says that the rich (and others) will hide in places such as caves. Recently there have been numerous articles describing the doomsday bunkers that rich people are building, such as these examples:

Throughout this article we've seen that the Rapture and the seven-year Tribulation period are very near, and that there will likely be nuclear attacks during the Tribulation period. When things get really bad during the Tribulation, these rich people will have ready-made "caves" to hide in, just as the above passage describes.

To summarize, all of the above signs of the times demonstrate that end-times prophecies are being fulfilled at an unprecedented rate, right in front of our eyes.

Prophecies of the Last Days Were Closed up and Sealed until the Time of the End

Because of our supercomputers and televisions and global telecommunications satellites and the Internet and implantable computer chips and nuclear warheads and other modern technologies, we are the very first people in the entire history of the world who are able to comprehend and fulfill many of the above end-times prophecies.

When we consider what the prophet Daniel was told, we can see how significant this is. Daniel was given a number of visions concerning the Antichrist and the seven-year Tribulation period, but take a close look at what Daniel recorded at the end of his book:

"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." (Daniel 12:4 NKJV)

"Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?" And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."" (Daniel 12:8-9 NKJV)

Daniel was told that the words of prophecy were "closed up and sealed" until the time of the end. Obviously it was not the actual book of Daniel that was sealed up because the book of Daniel has been a part of Scripture since around 530 BC (according to a number of Bible commentaries). Rather, it's the understanding of the prophecies that was closed off until the time of the end. Daniel was told that at the time of the end, knowledge shall increase. Consider that knowledge has now exploded to such an extent that people refer to our times as "the Information Age." This great increase in knowledge has led to all sorts of new technologies that suddenly make many end-times prophecies technologically feasible and able to come to pass at any time.

Looking out my living room window I can see a highway off in the distance, and at all hours of the day and night there's a steady stream of traffic in both directions. Throughout the day and night there are airplanes flying by in the distance, and similar streams of auto and air traffic are taking place around the world. Many people all over the planet are running to and fro, exactly as Daniel was told would happen at the time of the end (Daniel 12:4 NKJV, above).

For the very first time in history, our knowledge has increased to the point where we can understand end-times prophecies in ways that people in earlier ages could not have fathomed. For example, because of the Internet we can easily understand Revelation 11:9, which says that "some from every people, tribe, language and nation" will look upon the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses as we saw earlier. For almost two millennia, nobody understood how this prophecy can possibly be fulfilled. So when we consider this prophecy and Daniel's prophecies and other end-times prophecies, the understanding of these prophecies is no longer sealed up.

Think about that for a moment. Remember, Daniel was told that the words of prophecy were closed to people's understanding until the time of the end. We now have an understanding of how Daniel's prophecies can be fulfilled. They don't sound magical or mysterious to us like they did to people even a few decades ago. We are now in the time of the end that the angel told Daniel about. History as we know it is coming to a close.

Conclusion

Step by step, the world is shaping itself into an exact picture of the end-times world described throughout the Bible. We're living in the very first time in history when most of the end-times prophecies listed above could possibly be fulfilled, and those different prophecies are all being fulfilled in the same time frame, right in front of our eyes. The first "birth pain" that Jesus specifically said will mark the end of the age occurred in the 20th century, and we've seen many more signs of the times which demonstrate that end-times prophecies are being fulfilled at an unprecedented rate, right in front of our eyes.

In fact, more end-times prophecies have been fulfilled in the last 80 years or so than in the previous 1900 years all put together. These signs of the times indicate that the Tribulation and the Second Coming might be just around the corner, which means that we should live our lives expecting to see Jesus face to face at any moment because the Bible says that He will "snatch" all Christians off of the earth before the seven-year Tribulation begins.

As I described in my series called The Rapture of the Church, our heavenly bridegroom will return at any moment to fetch us.

Are we ready?

Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20).

For the glory of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, who came in the flesh, was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification.

Dave Root
home page and email: https://www.vividchristianity.com

"Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3)

"Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist - denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23)

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God." (1 John 4:15)

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." (1 John 4:1-3)

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:6-7)

"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

Modification History

08/02/2024 - Added Acts 4:32, Romans 12:16, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:2, and 1 Peter 3:8 under sign #19.
07/13/2024 - Added an update under sign #22.
07/06/2024 - Added an update in the Introduction section.
06/28/2024 - Added a link to my book in the Introduction section and under sign #19.
05/28/2024 - Added a link to my article called "Cheat Sheet" under sign #19.
04/23/2024 - Slightly modified my comments in my 07/19/2023 update under sign #19.
04/17/2024 - Added an update that the Jewish Rabbis' plan is to sacrifice a flawless red heifer just before Passover on April 22, 2024 (or 50 days later) under sign #7. Added an update under sign #22.
04/03/2024 - Modified sign #11. Added an update under sign #16.
03/05/2024 - Added more information under sign #19.
02/26/2024 - Added a link to The United Methodist Church under sign #19.
02/24/2024 - Added sign #23.
02/08/2024 - Added an update under sign #16.
02/01/2024 - Added an update under sign #12. Added a description of what the latter rain revival will look like under sign #19.
01/25/2024 - Added a link to Part Four of my series on the Rapture of the Church under sign #2. Modified sign #19. Added Matthew 16:21 and modified my comments on Luke 13:31-32 under sign #21.
01/10/2024 - Slightly modified sign #19.
12/14/2023 - Added an update under sign #11. Added an update under sign #12. Added an update under sign #15.
11/18/2023 - Added 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 under sign #19.
11/03/2023 - Added an update and more information under sign #22.
11/01/2023 - Added an update and more information under sign #22.
10/17/2023 - Added a link to an article called "The Anatomy of Deconversion: A Book Review" under sign #16.
10/05/2023 - Updated the capitalization of "church" throughout the article for consistency, as explained in my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part One. Modified sign #14. Added a comment about referring to the Holy Spirit as God the Mother under sign #16. Slightly modified sign #19.
09/12/2023 - Added an update with some recent news articles about the red heifer under sign #7.
08/27/2023 - Added an update and more information under sign #22.
08/13/2023 - Added an update under sign #19.
08/11/2023 - Deleted Matthew 7:21-27 in sign #19.
07/19/2023 - Added an update about a red heifer in sign #7. Added an update under sign #19.
06/08/2023 - Added a paragraph to say that all denominations are human inventions in sign #19.
04/17/2023 - Added an update under sign #16. Corrected some information about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster under sign #18. Added more comments at the end of sign #20.
04/11/2023 - Added an update under sign #16. Added an update under sign #22.
04/04/2023 - Deleted my update under sign #6 because it really didn't add much value.
03/31/2023 - Added some more information about divisions under sign #19.
02/13/2023 - Added an update under sign #6. Deleted my update about "Agenda 21 and Agenda 2030" in sign #8 because it's not clear that it has anything to do with a "new world order." Added 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 under sign #9. Added an update under sign #10. Slightly modified sign #14. Added an update under sign #16. Slightly modified sign #17. Modified sign #20.
01/29/2023 - Modified sign #19.
01/06/2023 - Added more information in sign #22.
12/19/2022 - Added more information in sign #19.
11/17/2022 - Added sign #22.
11/15/2022 - Added an update about red heifers in sign #7. Added an update about cessationism in sign #16.
08/31/2022 - Modified the section called "Prophecies of the Last Days Were Closed up and Sealed until the Time of the End."
08/23/2022 - Added the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in sign #19.
08/08/2022 - Added a link to my article called "Cheat Sheet" in sign #12. Modified sign #16. Added a link to the free PDF of my book called "Divine Healing Absolutely Is for Today" in sign #17. Modified sign #19.
07/23/2022 - Modified my closing statement.
05/19/2022 - Fixed all of the broken links. Added an update about red heifers in sign #7.
04/14/2022 - Changed the title of my book because I discovered a couple of existing books with "Healing Is for Today" in their names.
03/17/2022 - Modified sign #19.
12/02/2021 - Modified sign #20.
11/20/2021 - Modified sign #8. Modified sign #12. Modified sign #18. Modified sign #21.
11/03/2021 - Made the font size a bit bigger and added a fish symbol as a favicon (which is displayed in the browser tab).
09/24/2021 - Added an update about cryptocurrencies and the global cashless society in sign #12.
08/16/2021 - Modified the Introduction.
06/21/2021 - Added sign #21. Added an update about "Chrislam" in sign #9.
06/10/2021 - Added Luke 21:9-11 in the section called "What Will Be the Sign of the End of the Age?" Added sign #19. Added sign #20.
04/29/2021 - Added an update in sign #15 to show that Iran and Russia now have ties and cooperation agreements in a number of areas.
03/04/2021 - Updated sign #14 to show that it's plausible that Elijah and Enoch will be the Two Witnesses.
02/14/2021 - Added 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 in sign #16.
05/28/2020 - Added a link to a Wikipedia article about people experimenting with RFID chip implants. Added a comment that more and more Christian leaders are renouncing their faith.
02/14/2019 - Modified some of the wording.
06/10/2009 - Added part of the poem "Beowulf" (which was written in Old English) under sign #4.
08/04/2004 - Added an update to sign #18 about non-lethal weapons that are currently under development.
12/13/2001 - This was originally part of my article on the Rapture, but now it's a stand-alone article. New information and new signs of the times have been added.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R). NIV (R). Copyright (C) 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added.)