There are many signs in the world today that Jesus Christ will soon come back. A lot is going on in Israel and around the world, and what we’re seeing seems to line up with Bible prophesies. The world is changing in ways that point to a one-world government. In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus talked about the days before He came back and gave specific signs to look out for.
According to Matthew 24:9, Jesus told His disciples that because of His name, all countries would hate Israel. This message seems more important than ever right now. Israel is a small country that values democracy and free business. It is facing more and more opposition. Even places and groups that used to support Israel, like the United States and the United Nations, are changing their minds. Why do so many people hate Israel? Spiritual war is the answer, not politics. “The god of this world,” Satan, is working behind the scenes to make people hate Israel because Jesus, who beat Satan in the end, came from this country and is promised to return.
At the moment, Satan has an effect on the world order that can be seen in many areas, from politics to entertainment and to the Church. Satan’s power is growing not only in the world outside of religion, but also inside of it. Many churches that used to be highly evangelical have become “woke” and now accept all kinds of sin. They also let people who are still living in sin, like homosexuality and abortion, lead and care for “God’s” people. In their belief of “God is Love” and the idea that he would never send anyone to hell for sin, they reject what the Bible says and God’s law. They don’t understand that God isn’t sending them to hell; they are the ones who refuse to accept His offer to be free and stay locked up in sin, which is a surefire way to end up there.
His plan is for the Antichrist, who will be his agent on earth, to rule over the whole world. 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 says that this person will pretend to be a leader of peace, but his real goal is to destroy Israel and become the leader of the whole world. But for now, he is limited by the fact that the church is here on earth.
As Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4, the day of the Antichrist will not come until “the departure” first takes place. Most Bible experts say that this “departure” refers to the rapture, which is when Jesus takes His church with Him and leaves the earth before the tribulation. The Antichrist will be able to say what he really wants to do once the church is taken over. A short time from now on, there will be no Christians on earth. This will give the Antichrist a chance to take over before 144,000 Jews from the twelve tribes accept Jesus and start spreading the message of Jesus Christ.
Jesus told his disciples to pay attention to the signs of the times and compared Israel to a fig tree that starts to grow leaves in the spring. The end-time clock started ticking when Israel became a country again in 1948. Jesus said that the age that saw Israel’s rebirth would also see all the end-time prophecies come true, including His return.
It is the church’s job to stand strong and bring the hope of Christ to a world that is in chaos. Through 2 Timothy 3:10–14, Paul tells us that living a godly life will lead to persecution, but we must remain steadfast in our faith and preach the truth even as the world becomes more hostile.
Both the rapture, in which Jesus comes to collect His church, and the second coming, in which He returns with His church to build His kingdom, are described in the Bible. Both of these occurrences are separate from one another. Jesus will meet Christians in the air at the time of the rapture, and He will assemble His church to attend to Him. At this instant, believers will be “caught up” to be with the Lord for all eternity, and it will be a moment that is both sudden and certain.
The final seven years of the prophesy that was delivered to Daniel, which is sometimes referred to as “Daniel’s 70th week,” will be fulfilled after the rapture, when God’s attention will once again be directed toward Israel. During this time, which is referred to as the tribulation, there will be a period of tremendous conflict and judgment on earth. Following the establishment of a peace deal with Israel, the Antichrist will breach the treaty in the middle of its implementation, therefore revealing his actual intentions and plunging the world into turmoil.
As Christians, we should be able to see these signs without being scared. Jesus told us not to let things going on around us “trouble” us. We should instead see these times as chances to share our faith, knowing that God has picked us for “such a time as this.”
We all go through “tribulations” in life, but this is not the same as the tribulation time. The problems Christians are facing now, like opposition from society, opposition from the government, and hatred from culture, are a sign of what’s to come. He told them, “There will be trouble in this world.” Don’t worry, though! “I have won over the world.” During hard times, we remember to lean on God’s power and share the gospel with people who are hurting because of how broken the world is.
The world will go through a time of unimaginable suffering after the rapture. Two witnesses, thought to be Moses and Elijah, will prophesy in Jerusalem and show miraculous skills similar to those they used in the Old Testament. While the Antichrist tries to trick the world, they will stand as witnesses to God’s truth.
The final battle of Armageddon will be the end of this time period. Jesus will come back to defeat His enemies and set up His millennial kingdom. His feet will touch the Mount of Olives and split it in half. For a thousand years, He will rule from Jerusalem. This kingdom will put the world back together the way it was meant to be, keeping God’s promises to Israel and making the world fair and peaceful.
The Bible tells us to stay positive and strong, even though there are signs of the end times all around us. Paul tells us that those who wait for Jesus to come back will be given a “crown of righteousness.” We are called to live holy lives and share His love and truth with those who need it the most as we wait for His return.
Jesus is our hope because he overcame the world and will soon come back to make everything right. Until then, let’s keep our eyes on Him, believe what He says, and openly share the gospel with a world that needs His peace.