Bible Prophecy and The Last Days

Jesus told us to look for many things. In Mark 13 we see some things to watch for. The very first thing is to watch for Israel to become a nation again after it's destruction in 70 A.D. by the Romans. In Matthew 24 He tells us that:

24:32 “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door.

24:34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

This is a parable for Israel. The Fig Tree is a symbol of Israel. Being tender and putting forth it's branch is symbolic of the taking back Jerusalem. In 1948 they became a nation in 1 day...literally over night. Look at what Isaiah had to say about this.

Isaiah 66:8 Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen this?

Can a country be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born in a single moment?

Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons!

In 1967 during the 6 Day War they regained control of Jerusalem for the first time in almost 2,000 years, and it was declared literally in 1 day!

Listen again to Isaiah: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people... and he shall set up an ensign (announcement) for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth... and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off' (Isaiah 11:11-13).

So concerning when to begin watching, we began with the prophecy of Israel coming back to life again and stretching her arms out to regain control over areas long lost to history and war.

So what are other signs to watch for? We will see what Jesus said to look for in these last days.

Mark 13:3 So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

13:4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”

13:5 Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you.

13:6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many.

13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.

 13:8 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

Wars and rumors of wars in various places. nation rising against nation. Kingdom against kingdom. No time in history has shown war and conflict in such great numbers on a global level. Each day across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, former Soviet occupied nations, South and Central America, and the USA and Europe in fighting the War on Terror, we see the news rife with wars and rumors that another will begin any day.

Muslims fighting each other with dozens of terror groups leading the charge occur by the minute across the world.

Paul tells us in 2 Timothy:  

:3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

3:2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,

3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.

3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have denied its power. So avoid people like these

4:3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.

4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.

Do you recognize any of these traits in society today? Are people greedy and arrogant? Are children disobedient to their parents unlike decades past? Do we see religious people who claim to walk a holy life yet have no real understanding of God?

Reckless? Treacherous?? Boastful? Just watch daytime talk shows. Everything has become money and power in society. Everyone wants the easy way out without work. party, party, party is the theme. Stab a co-worker in the back to climb just that 1 more rung on the corporate ladder. Lawsuits over anything? Easy money is the game.

Savage? have you seen the nature of crimes these days? Men and women killing their own children? Rapes and murders at an all time high along with serial murders? Workplace shootings? Kids shooting each other over a pair of shoes? Mothers killing students that have a higher social life than their own?

I would say that the prophecy is pretty clear cut and precise.

And last but not least, what about peace between Israel and her neighbors? The Rapture HAS to take place prior to this event being confirmed fully. But it IS being discussed. It HAS been agreed upon. And it WILL occur. That fact alone that it is this far along should show you the Rapture is imminent.

Ezekiel shows us that israel is nestled securely in the Tribulation.

This is what the Lord says:

On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages, I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people – all of them living without gates and bars." (Ezek. 38:8-11)

Ezekiel 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

38:13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

38:14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?

So there MUST be PEACE to kick off the Tribulation. The Rapture MUST occur PRIOR to this according to scripture.

2 Thessalonians

2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

2:5 Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

2:6 And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time.

2:7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  And with all delusion of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.