Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
Because many believers reject the idea that we live in the last days before the events of the seven-year tribulation sweep over the earth, they fail to identify what makes today radically different than any previous period in history.
In part 1, I discussed why the rebirth of Israel is the key to identifying this day as the last moments in human history as we know it. This is so important to understanding our day, yet so many miss the significance of this momentous fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
In addition to Israel’s existence, the abundance of signs that we see everywhere in our world tell us the tribulation period is ever so near and with that our departure, which happens before it.
5. The Magog-Gog War of Ezekiel 38-39
The prophecy of the Magog-Gog invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38-39 not only tells us that Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia will merely protest the greed of the invaders rather than join with them (see part 1), but it also predicts two other realities that have never existed until recent years.
Russia, Iran, and Turkey will form a close alliance that will lead the future invasion of Israel (see 38:1-6, it’s based on ancient names for these regions/nations)
The prosperity of Israel will cause this group to invade (38:10-13)
Today, Russia, Iran, and Turkey not only have significant military forces in Syria; a country that borders Israel on its northern Golan Heights, but have formed a close alliance. An article on the Harbinger’s Daily website, Iran, Russia and Turkey Signal Growing Alliance, goes into detail on how the coalition of these nations continues to strengthen in 2021.[i] Ten years ago, Turkey was a close ally of Israel; now, however, they have aligned with Russia and Iran exactly as the prophet Ezekiel said would happen in the last days.
The wealth of Israel has significantly increased over the past decade. The nation possesses a huge reservoir of natural gas off their shore and are in the process of building a pipeline under the Mediterranean Sea in order to sell this natural gas to Europe (much to the dismay of Putin who also sells natural gas to those nations). Recent discoveries also indicate that a very large oil field also exists in Israel.
In addition, rumors abound that a significant vein of gold also exits in the Land, which Israel plans to use to finance the construction of the temple. Ezekiel prophesied that the Lord would use Israel’s wealth to lure Russia into leading the invasion of the Land.
Now as never before, the nation of Israel possesses great wealth in natural resources that would lead to such an attack.
6. Technology that Makes the Mark of the Beast Possible
The immergence of artificial intelligence (AI) during the past few years also makes today much different than any other time. This technology now makes it possible for one man, the antichrist, to control the buying and selling as described in Revelation 13:15-17:
“And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.”
I recently watched a video on Tom Hughes’ YouTube channel where he and Billy Crone discussed how AI along with the 5G network makes it possible for one person, the antichrist, to enforce compliance with the mark of the beast. Billy Crone, who has done extensive research on AI, likened the development of AI to the rebirth of Israel in terms of prophetic significance because now, as never before, we see the means for the antichrist and false prophet to fulfill what John wrote in Revelation 13:15-18.
The literal interpretation of these verses, accepted by faith in previous generations, has become a reality in today’s world. China has already implemented such a system that makes the buying and selling of many things dependent on one’s social score. It’s only a matter of time before we see this on a worldwide scale under the control of the coming beast.
7. Deception
When the disciples asked Jesus about “the sign of your coming and of the end of the age,” His first words were these, “See that no one leads you astray” (Matt. 24:3-4). In the same discourse, Jesus also warns about “false teachers” seeking to lead others “astray” (Matt. 24:11, 24). In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, the apostle Paul writes about the deception that will characterize the antichrist and his time.
Do we not see this happening everywhere in our world today? In just the past year, we have seen “big tech” censor truth on social media on a massive scale. Never before has it been so difficult to decipher the truth from the abundance of lies and misinformation that confront us on a daily basis.
Yes, there have been other times of mass deception such as we see today throughout the world. The disinformation campaign in Germany that led to the rise of Hitler is very similar to what I see happening today in the United States.
The difference between Germany in the past century and today is three-fold. First, we have all the other signs of the last days converging at this time. Second, the deception is happening worldwide, rather than in just one country. And third, with the advances in technology, those who stamp out the truth have more effective means of doing so than existed in the lead up to WW II.
8. The Matthew 24 Signs
The additional signs Jesus gave us, as recorded in Matthew 24:4-14, also tell us that we live in the last days.
One might look at the list of signs in Matthew 24 and say that these things have been true for many centuries; and that is true. In verse 8, however, Jesus compared these signs to “birth pains” and this tells us all we need to know about why today is unique in terms of biblical prophecy. Like “birth pains,” the closer we get to the tribulation and to Christ’s return, we should expect these signs to increase in frequency and intensity, which is exactly what we see today.
Let’s look at a few examples.
a. Wars and rumors of wars
In verse 6 Jesus said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” The world today is on the edge of war. There’s mounting friction between China and America over Taiwan, which many believe could result in a war between the two in the near future.
The Gateway Pundit website tells of a massive buildup of military forces near the Ukraine border. Complete with pictures and videos, it reports the movement of many tanks and soldiers on both sides.[ii] If war breaks out, will America come to the aid of its NATO ally? Could this lead to an all-out war between the U.S. and Russia? For now, this qualifies as a significant “rumor” of a war that the mainstream media is currently ignoring.
As the world teeters on the brink of war in many hotspots around the globe, the rider of the red horse, signifying war, waits in the wings (Rev. 6:3-4). His deadly ride through the world near the beginning of the tribulation seems closer than ever before (see Rev. 6:8). And if his trek through our planet is ever so close, how much closer must the rapture be?
b. Ethnic Strife
Jesus added these words in verse 7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
The word for “nation” in this verse is literally ethnos in the Greek. The tension Jesus predicts for the end times arises from strife and battles between ethnic groups as well as among nations. Does anyone doubt that this is happening today and continuing to get worse with each passing day?
c. Lawlessness
Jesus said that increased lawlessness would also characterize the last days, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul refers to the antichrist as “the man of lawlessness” and in verse 7 says that “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.”
If one word describes our day from the standpoint of the standard of God’s Word, it’s “lawlessness.” Almost every day, news of increasing ungodliness and wickedness in the United States saddens me. The support of abortion and the LBGTQ agenda continues to reach new levels seemingly each week in America and I am sure that is true in many other places in our world.
Biblical prophecy is alive and well in the spring of 2021; we see so many things predicted long ago coming to life before our eyes. Yet, so maybe believers remain unaware of the many signs that place us in the last moments of history before the rapture and tribulation period.
In part 3, we will look at how the push for a one world government also indicates that our time remaining before Jesus’ appearing to take us home is exceedingly short.
Are you ready?
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[i] Harbinger’s Daily, Iran, Russia and Turkey Signal Growing Alliance, March 21. 202, @ https://harbingersdaily.com/iran-russia-and-turkey-signal-growing-alliance/
[ii] Joe Hoft, Russia Mounting Massive Show of Force in Russian-Occupied Crimea and Ukraine (VIDEO), April 1, 2021 on the Gateway Pundit website @ https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/04/russia-mounting-massive-show-force-russian-occupied-crimea-ukraine-video/