This is part 3 in a 14 part series entitled Don’t Panic – Survival Guide to the Apocalypse.  Full PDF Download available free here: Don’t Panic – Survival Guide

The Stage is Set

Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.  (Amos 3:7)

It is in God’s character to issue warnings before acting in judgment.  He gives signs heralding His interventions on the earth.  He has done everything apart from rolling back the heavens and thundering in a loud voice, “Repent!  For the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”.  Just as with His first coming, God commands us to watch the signs of His second coming, so that we are not taken by surprise. 

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.  And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.  Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?  (Luke 12:54-56)

And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!  (Mark 13:37)

It would seem that the time of intense “watching” of signs would mainly encompass the last 70-80 years prior to the return of Jesus Christ (Psalm 90:10).  This is indeed what we have seen!  There is so very much that can be researched with each of the signs I list below, but it seems redundant to do so here as they are in the past from your vantage  point.  Why do I bother listing them?  I want you to know that God in all His fairness gave warning to all those who had ears to hear.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)

The Bible verses predicting these signs are given in parentheses for your personal study, should you wish.

Signs Regarding Israel and Its’ People:

• Israel’s Rebirth as a Nation on May 14, 1948 (Jeremiah 31:10, Jeremiah 33:7, Ezekiel 36:8-13, 22-32, Ezekiel 37:1-6, 21-27, Ezekiel 39:27-29, Isaiah 66:8, Isaiah 11:11, Amos 9:14-15)
• Israel would be reborn in one day (Isaiah 66:8)
• Ezekiel’s 430 days of laying, which predicted Israel’s rebirth in spring 1948 (Ezekiel 4:1-8, Leviticus 26:14-46)
• Jerusalem Recaptured in the 6-day war, June 1967 (Zechariah 12:2-3)
• Anti-Semitism worldwide (Deuteronomy 28:37; Jeremiah 29:18; 44:8; Luke 21:20-24; Revelation 12)
• Jewish Aliyah in progress (return of Jews to Israel) (Jeremiah 31:10, Jeremiah 33:7, Ezekiel 36:8-13, 22-32, Ezekiel 37:1-6, 21-27, Ezekiel 39:27-29, Isaiah 66:8, Isaiah 11:11, Amos 9:14-15)
• Jews will return from the north, south, east and west, from all over the world (Isaiah 43:5-6, Jeremiah 31:7-10)
• Before Israel’s rebirth, it would be a wasteland (Deuteronomy 29:23-28, Ezekiel 36:8-11, Ezekiel 36:33-36)
• After Israel’s rebirth, it will blossom and become a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Isaiah 27:6, 35:1-2; Ezekiel 36:34-36)
• Israel’s economy would bloom (Ezekiel 38:12-13)
• Israel would plant vineyards (Joel 3:18, Amos 9:13-15)
• Israel would plant trees, specifically cedar, acacia, myrtle, oil, cypress, pine, and box (Isaiah 41:18-20)
• Hebrew language would be restored (Zephaniah 3:9, Isaiah 19:18)
• Jerusalem would be rebuilt on its own ruins (Jeremiah 30:18, Zechariah 12:6)
• Jerusalem would be a “cup of trembling” and a “burdensome stone” to all surrounding people (Zechariah 12:2-2)
• All surrounding nations would be united against Israel (Psalm 83:4-8; Zechariah 12:2)
• There will be attempts to divide Israel  (Joel 3:2; Daniel 11:39)
• Israel will be restored as one nation, rather than two kingdoms (Ezekiel 37:15-22)
• Rebirthed Israel will be invincible (Zechariah 12:6-9, Jeremiah 30:3-7; Zechariah 14; Mark 13:14-20)
• Israel will be an “unwalled city” (Ezekiel 38:8-11)
• Most Jews remain blind to the fact that Jesus is their Messiah, which will continue until the upcoming time of trouble (Luke 19:41-42; Luke 13:34-35; Romans 11:25-26)
• Strong interest in forming a peace and/or land treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27)
• Third Temple – plans are complete, Levite priests are trained, Temple furniture, garments, and sacred vessels have been made (Revelation 11:1-3, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Ezekiel chapters 40-48)
• Temple sacrifices re-instituted, this has occurred in practice (Daniel 9:27, 12:11)
• A rare red heifer suitable for sacrifice is actively being sought/bred (Numbers 19:1-22, Hebrews 9:13)

Signs Regarding the Church:

• Many from Egypt to Assyria (Iraq and the Middle East) will call upon the name of the Lord and be saved (Isaiah 19:16-25)
• The gospel has been preached to all nations (but not yet all people groups)(Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10)
• The Bible – God’s word – will never “pass away” – The Bible is the best selling book in human history (Luke 21:33)
• Despite the good, as a whole the church will be marked by apostasy and a departure from sound doctrine (Amos 8:11, Revelation chapters 2-3, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Luke 18:8)
• Bible teachers will bring in heretical teachings, have many followers, and draw others away from the Christ of the Bible (2 Peter 2:1-2)
• False teachers would take advantage of their followers financially (2 Peter 2:3)
• Deceptive signs and wonders sought by the “church” (Matthew 7:22-23; 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9)
• Some in the church will be led by deceiving spirits and the “doctrines of demons” – such as the “heavenly visitors and visitations” (1 Timothy 4:1)
• Disqualified Regarding the Faith: they are no longer considered to be a part of the faith, they have left the church (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Some will confess faith in Christ, but not obey Him (Matthew 24:48-51; Matthew 7:22-23).
• Some have lost their First Love, passion for Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1-7)
• Some will compromise with the world, and bring that compromise into the church (Revelation 2:12-17)
• Some will bring an acceptance of sexual immorality into the church (Revelation 2:18-19)
• Some will go through the motions of religion, but actually be “spiritually asleep” (Revelation 3:1-6)
• Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (choosing “religion” and some kind of profession of following God through outward appearances, but lacking true faith and true relationship with God in the heart) (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Burdened with sins and led astray by various passions (following lusts of the flesh) (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Much of the church near the end times will be marked by lukewarmness (Revelation 3:14-22)
• Scoffing and Mocking of the “pretribulation rapture” will come from within the church (2 Peter 3:2-4)
• Christian martyrdom will increase (Revelation 6:9-11)

Signs Regarding Society:

• A final transitional generation of 70-80 years (Matthew 24:34-35, Luke 21:32-33, Mark 13:30-31, Psalm 90:10)
• Immorality will be prevalent in Society (2 Timothy 3:1-8, Isaiah 5:20-21)
• Youth will be increasingly rebellious and disobedient (2 Timothy 3:2-3; Mark 13:12)
• In the last days there will come times of difficulty: hardships (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will be lovers of self, narcissistic (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will be lovers of money (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will be proud, arrogant: having the attitude of people who think that they are better or more important than other people (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Society will become more abusive (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will be more ungrateful (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Society will become unholy: not showing respect for a god or a religion (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Society will be heartless, unappeasable (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will become more slanderous (gossip)  (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Without self-control: lacking control over feelings or actions (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Society will become brutal: extremely cruel or harsh (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will not love what is good (high quality, correct, proper, holy) (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will be treacherous: not able to be trusted – including governments (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Many will be reckless (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Many will be swollen with conceit: too much pride in their own worth or goodness (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Society will be marked by the love of pleasure rather than the love of God (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will be materialistic (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Learning will be widespread, but it won’t bring people closer to the Truth that is found in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• People will oppose the truth found in the Bible and choose instead to believe lies – such as about humanity’s creation and purpose (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Christians will be hated, or at least resented (Luke 21:17; Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4).
• Many will reject the Ten Commandments as a moral code (Matthew 24:12; Revelation 9:21)
• Corruption will be common (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
• Sexual immorality will be rampant.  This includes sexual activity outside of marriage, lust, pornography, explicit shows and books, masturbation, adultery, etc. (Jude 18; Revelation 9:21)
• Homosexuality will come to the forefront, as in the days of Lot (Luke 17:28-30, Genesis 18:20-29, Jude 1:5-7, Romans 1:26-28, 2 Peter 2:4-10)
• Society will be marked by violence, as in the days of Noah (Genesis chapters 6-9, Jude 1:6-7, 2 Peter 3:1-7, Luke 17:26)
• DNA manipulation will occur, as in the days of Noah (Genesis chapters 6-9, Jude 1:6-7, 2 Peter 3:1-7)
• There will be a denial of the Global Flood (2 Peter 3:5-6)
• Knowledge will increase greatly near the time of the end (Genesis 11:1-9, Daniel 12:4)
• Travel capabilities will greatly increase near the time of the end (Daniel 12:4)
• Some will have substantial wealth and luxuries (James 5:1-3; Revelation 3:17; Revelation 18)
• Global communications a reality (Revelation 11:9-10; 17:8)
• Interest in Vegetarian eating (1 Timothy 4:3-4)
• Some would forbid marriage, such as seen in Catholic Church leadership (1 Timothy 4:3)
• Technology exists to place a mark on someone’s hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16)
• Technology exists to have a global economic system (Revelation 13:16-17)
• People will be open to being marked (tattoo’d, branded, tracked) (Revelation 13:16)
• Despite the Bible’s numerous warnings, most people will be taken by surprise (Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)
• People will mock the warning signs and those who try to warn them saying that these signs have always been around, there is nothing new about them (2 Peter 3:3-4)

Additional Signs:

• False Christs, false Saviors, false “messiah” figures and prophets will come (Matthew 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-7)
• Specific sun, moon, and star sign which occurred on September 23, 2017 (Revelation 12:1-2)
• Abortion and Euthanasia are “end time signs”, as humanity tries to control its own beginning and end and “be as gods” (Genesis chapters 3, 6)
• The Euphrates River will be dried up – a dam was completed in 1990 that could make this happen (Revelation 16:12)
• Global population explosion – compared to when the prophecy was written 1950 years ago (Revelation 7:9.14)
• Egypt, once a superpower, will still exist but as a “lowly kingdom” (Ezekiel 29:14-16)
•  Climate change and mass death of animals will occur near the end (Hosea 4:2-3)

Satanic Signs:

As part of God’s foretelling, we understand that satan is “chomping at the bit”, waiting to unleash his nefarious plan.  We may watch him move his pawns into place based on what the Bible tells us he is going to do.

For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work… (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

• People will be interested in sorceries, witchcraft, magic, the occult (Revelation 9:21, 18:23, 21:8, Isaiah 47:9-15, Micah 5:10-15)
• “Alien” (demonic) activity and sightings (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, Revelation 12:3-4, Ephesians 6:12, 2 Corinthians 11:14)
• Fallen angels will interact with mankind (1 Timothy 4:1; Luke 17:26; Genesis 6:1-4)
• Macroevolution pushed as “fact” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, John 8:44)
• Blasphemy will become common – taking the Lord’s Name in vain (2 Timothy 3:2; Revelation 16:9, 11, 21).
• Epidemic drug use (Revelation 9:21)
• People will worship idols of their own making – this simply means showing a strong devotion to someone or something that isn’t God.  (Revelation 9:20; 13:12-15; 19:20; Micah 5:10-15; Zechariah 13:1-2, Romans 1:18-25)
• Consciences will be seared – people will call evil “good” and good “evil”. (1 Timothy 4:2, Isaiah 5:20)

The Bible connects these things to the worship of satan and his world system.  Even during this upcoming time of trouble, most of humanity will cling to these things instead of turning to the one true God:

Now the rest of mankind… still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft.  (Revelation 9:20-21)

Signs of War:

• Wars will occur, such as WW1 and WW2 (Mark 13:6-7, Luke 21:9, Matthew 24:6)
• Rumors of wars (Mark 13:6-7, Luke 21:9, Matthew 24:6)
• Ethnic conflicts (Mark 13:6-8; Luke 21:9-10)
• Future wars:
  • Destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17:1, Jeremiah 49:23-27, Amos 1:3-5, Zechariah 9:1-8)
  • Arab-Israeli War – Egypt, Jordan/Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon (Psalm 83)
  • Gog Magog War – Russia, Turkey, Ethiopia, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and perhaps others seem to attack Israel very unexpectedly (Ezekiel 38-39)
  • World War III (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:10)
• The capacity to destroy all life would be a reality (Matthew 24:21-22)
• A global cry for “peace and security” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

Debatable Signs:

Lastly, I present to you some additional signs that there is some disagreement as to whether or not they apply:

• Chaotic weather patterns (Luke 21:25-26)
• 6000 years allotted for human government on earth (Ecclesiastes 3:1, Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:3-10, Hosea 5:15-6:2, Genesis 6:3)
• Solar eclipse centered over the USA on August 21, 2017
• Planet X, Nibiru – a somewhat enigmatic planet which does happen to appear on the NASA website.  If it exists, it may explain some of the “super”natural phenomenon which are to come.
• Literal Babylon (formerly Babel) restored (Zechariah 5:11; Isaiah 13)
• Nuclear weapons would be available (Zechariah 14:12)
• Asia (the kings from the east) would be capable of deploying a 200-million-man army.  This army may be human or demonic, I am unsure. (Revelation 9:14-16; 16:12)
• The Catholic Eucharist – some believe this fulfils the saying that Christ would be in the secret chambers and inner rooms (Matthew 24:26)
• False Signs – Eucharist “miracles” (Matthew 24:23-27)
• Apparition of “Mary”, Mary as the head of a global counterfeit church, queen of heaven and earth (Revelation 17, 18:7)
• Mary representing Rome – there is debate on the future identity of “Mystery Babylon” (Revelation 17:9, 18)

A Preview of Signs to Come:

God has clearly spelled out what will occur during the final seven-to-ten years of this age.  From my vantage point, these have not yet occurred.  However, previews have been given!  The stage is set for them to occur in full force very swiftly – as soon as God’s restraint on them is lifted:

• A preview of “birth pangs”:
  • New and devastating deadly diseases (pestilences) (Matthew 24:7, Revelation 6:8)
  • Global earthquakes (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11)
  • Global famines (Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11, Revelation 6:5-8)
  • Terrors and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:11)
• A Global Government, with a “new world order” (Daniel 2:40-44, 7:23; Revelation 13:7-8)
• A Global Ruler (Daniel chapters 7, 11, Revelation 13)
• A One World Religion (Revelation 13:8,12, Revelation 17)
• Global Peace and Security promised (Daniel 8:23-25)
• Environmental Devastation (Revelation 11:18)
• Signs in the sun, the sun will scorch the inhabitants of earth (Luke 21:25, Revelation 16:8-9)
• The Eastern Gate in Israel will remain closed until the Messiah returns (Ezekiel 44:1-3)
• Israel will have no king until Jesus returns (Hosea 3:4-5)
• Ancient Petra, in Jordan would exist, and possibly will become a place of refuge (Isaiah 16:1-4; Matthew 24:16; Revelation 12:6, 14)
• Birds of prey will eat the dead flesh of the enemy armies that fall in battle against Israel.  Fun Fact – Israel is the migratory bird capital of the world.  (Ezekiel 39:4, 17; Revelation 19:17-21)

That we are seeing hints of these signs beforehand, is a foreshadowing of what is to come.   What we see beforehand disruptive, but what will occur then is incomprehensible!

Listen my friend, the book of Revelation is meant to REVEAL, not conceal.  God gave us signs and prophecies to watch for, so that we can know His word is true.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.  Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.  (Revelation 1:1-3)

It’s challenging to understand at times, yes, but God has hidden keys throughout the whole body of Scripture that unlock meaning.  It’s the most amazing and beautiful puzzle which ties together the entire revelation of God to humanity.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  (John 16:13)

What I write here is my best understanding from Scripture, but it is a human understanding, and thus will be flawed in some points.  I urge you to search the Scripture for yourself to see if these things are so, praying for wisdom!

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.  (Proverbs 25:2)

 

Proceed to Chapter 3 – Act 1 – And So It Begins