Signs of the Last Days

The last days: Signs of the times:

 

A. We should discern the signs of the times:

 

Mat.16:3b Can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Mat.24:3 What shall be the sign of Thy coming, & of the end of the world?
Mat.24:39 (Unbelievers) knew not until the flood came
1Thes.5:2,4 Ye, brethren, are not (to be) in darkness
2Pet.3:3-4 Scoffers saying, "Where is His coming? All things continue as they were..."

B. Greatly increased learning:

 

Dan.12:4 Time of the end: Many shall run to & fro, & knowledge shall be increased
2Tim.3:1,7 [Modern education:] Ever learning & never able to come to the knowledge of the truth
Mat.24:14 Gospel preached in all the world [now possible by radio, TV, world travel, etc.]...then the end

C. Greatly increased natural disasters:

 

Mat.24:7 There shall be famines, & pestilences & earthquakes [Increasing in number & severity; famines worsened by world economic troubles]
Lk.21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear [unprecedented rate of heart attacks today]

D. Greatly increased wickedness & wars:

 

2Tim.3:1,13 In the last days...evil men shall wax worse & worse
Mat.24:6 Wars & rumours of wars...nation against nation
Mat.24:37,38 As the days of Noah were (corrupt & violent) so shall
Lk.21:25b Upon earth distress of nations [civil unrest]

E. Rampant homosexuality in the end time:

 

Lk.17:28-30 As it was in the days of Lot [rampant sodomy]...even thus shall it be in the day when (Jesus returns)
Rom.1:24,26-28 Uncleanness...lusts...dishonour their bodies...vile affections...against nature...working that which is unseemly
2Tim.3:1-3a In the last days...men shall be without natural affection
(See also Gen.9:20-27; 13:12,13; 18:18-33; 19:1-30; 2Pet.2:6-8.)

F. Great falling away from true faith:

 

2Thes.2:2,3 The day of Christ shall not come except there come a falling away (apostasy) first
Mat.24:12 Iniquity shall abound...the love of many shall wax cold
Mat.24:5,11,24 Arise false Christs, & false prophets...deceive many
1Tim.4:1 In latter times some shall depart from the faith... giving heed to doctrines of devils

G. Increased persecution of true Christians:

 

Mat.24:9,10 Ye shall be hated of all nations...many be offended
Lk.21:16,17 Ye shall be betrayed...& some of you...put to death

H. What all these fulfilled signs mean:

 

Mat.24:33 When ye see all these things...(Jesus' coming) near
Lk.21:28 When these things begin to come to pass
Lk.21:31,32 This generation not pass till all be fulfilled

2. How to recognise the Antichrist world government:

 

Dan.8:25 By peace (he) shall destroy many
Dan.11:21 Come in peaceably, & obtain the kingdom by flatteries [lying propaganda]
Dan.11:23 Work deceitfully...become strong with (deceive & use) a small people (the poor)
Dan.11:24 Enter peaceably even upon the fattest (nations)
Dan.11:24 He shall scatter among them (the poor)...the riches
Dan.11:24 He shall forecast his devices against the strongholds
Dan.11:39b He shall divide the land for gain (popularity)
Dan.11:36,37 Exalt himself...speak things against the God of gods

3. The Antichrist & his rise:

 

1Jn.2:18 It is the last time: (the) Antichrist shall come
2Thes.2:1-4 That day (of Jesus' coming) shall not come except... that man of sin be revealed
2Thes.2:9 Whose coming is after (according to) working of Satan
2Thes.2:10-12 God shall send them strong delusion (the Antichrist)... who believed not the truth
Dan.8:23 In the latter time...a king of fierce countenance...shall stand up
Rev.13:4 The dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast
Rev.13:7 Power was given him over...all nations
Dan.11:37 Neither shall he regard God of his fathers
Dan.11:37 Neither...regard...desire of women
Dan.11:37 Neither shall he regard...any god

4. Signing of the covenant:

 

Dan.9:27a He shall confirm the covenant for one week (7 years)
Dan.11:30b The holy covenant [It's a religious pact]

5. Breaking of the covenant & daily sacrifice (Jewish worship) stopped:

 

Dan.8:11,12 By him (the Antichrist) daily sacrifice was taken away
Dan.9:27b In midst of the week [after 3-1/2 years of the 7-year covenant] shall he cause the sacrifice to cease
Dan.11:31 Take away the daily sacrifice; place the abomination that maketh desolate
2Thes.2:4 He (the Antichrist) as God sitteth in the temple of God

6. Great tribulation:

 

A. A time of intense trouble & persecution:

 

Dan.12:1b There shall be a time of trouble such as never was
Mat.24:15,21 When ye see the abomination of desolation...then shall be great tribulation
Mat.24:22 Except those days be shortened (cut off), there should no flesh be saved

B. Antichrist blasphemes, says he is God:

 

Dan.7:25a (Antichrist) speaks great words against the most High
2Thes.2:3b,4 (Antichrist) exalteth himself above all that is called God
Rev.13:6 (Antichrist) opened mouth in blasphemy against God

C. Much of the world worships him:

 

Rev.13:8 All that dwell upon the earth worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life
Rev.13:13,14 (Antichrist) doeth great wonders...& deceiveth them that dwell on the earth

D. The mark, the image & enforced worship of the beast:

 

Rev.13:15 Image of the beast...speak & cause that as many as would not worship (it)...be killed
Rev.13:16,17 No man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the number of his name
Rev.13:18 The number of the beast...is 666
Rev.14:9-11 If any man receive his mark...shall be tormented

E. The false prophet:

 

Rev.13:11-16 He causeth the earth to worship the (Antichrist)... deceiveth them
Rev.19:20 False prophet wrought miracles...he deceived them

F. The Antichrist's persecution of Christians:

 

Rev.13:7 To make war with the saints, & to overcome them, & power given him over...all nations
Dan.7:21 Made war with the saints, & prevailed against them
Dan.7:25 He shall...wear out the saints of the most High (God)
Dan.8:24 He shall...destroy the mighty & the holy people
Dan.11:33 They that understand...shall fall by the sword
Dan.11:35 Some of them of understanding (teachers) shall fall
Dan.12:7b He shall...scatter the power of the holy people

G. Why God allows us to suffer tribulation:

 

Dan.11:35 To try them, & to purge, & to make them white
Dan.12:10 Many shall be purified, & made white, & tried
Isa.48:10 I have refined thee...in the furnace of affliction (See also Pro.17:3; Eph.5:27.)

H. Future Heavenly reward for enduring tribulation:

Rev.7:9,13-17 These...came out of great tribulation...therefore are they before the throne of God day & night
Rev.20:4 Them...which had not worshipped the beast...lived & reigned with Christ

I. Christians overcome & survive despite persecution:

 

Rev.12:11 They overcame him (Antichrist) by blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony
Dan.11:32b People that know God shall be strong & do exploits
Rom.8:35-37 In all these things we are more than conquerors
1Cor.15:51,52 We shall not all sleep (die)...we shall be changed
1Thes.4:16,17 We which are alive and remain [Many Christians still alive at Jesus' 2nd coming]

J. Protection & provision during tribulation:

 

Rev.9:3,4 [The wicked will be tormented, but we will be spared]
Rev.11:3,5-7 Two witnesses have power to smite earth with plagues
Rev.12:6 Fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there
Rev.12:14 Fly into the wilderness...where she is nourished

K. Witnessing during the tribulation:

 

Dan.11:33a They that understand...shall instruct many