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“Last Days” Signs

Focus On Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry

http://www.focusonjerusalem.com

 

Note:  The following response to an inquiry about the “The Last Days,” an expression that is used both in Scripture and by many believers who take seriously the approximately one third of the Bible that deals with prophecy, was penned by the originator and editor of the website www.focusonjerusalem.com. 

 

Question # 274….(01-26-06) I notice that you refer to the Last Days a lot in your writings. What is the basis for your belief that we are living in the Last Days? How can you be sure that these are the last days and that the end of the world is near?

 

Answer…..There are literally hundreds of signals that portend that our current era is the dynamic days that will usher in the return of Jesus Christ. The term “last days” does not refer to the end of the world, as some people tend to think, but it refers instead to the final days of the Age of the Gentiles, and the institution of the Millennial Age of Christ.

 

Foremost among the signs hinting that the Last Days are upon us are the following:

 

  1. The modern miraculous and prophesied rebirth of the nation of Israel (physically).

 

  1. The perplexing world-wide dilemma that encompasses the sovereignty of the city of Jerusalem in world affairs (religiously and politically).

 

  1. The rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the world, especially in the Arab world.

 

  1. The rise of superpowers that are anti-Israel in the north (Russia) and the Far East.

 

  1. The alignment of Russia with Persia (Iran) in geo-political strategic designs against Israel, and the West.

 

  1. The emergence of a unified political superstructure in Europe.

 

  1. The emergence of a Global Governance concept (UN, etc.).

 

  1. The unprecedented defamation of Biblical Christianity.

 

  1. The rise and prevalence of the Laodicean Age (compromising/apostate) Church, and the search for religious harmony and unity.

 

  1. The capability of mankind to destroy the world through warfare.

 

  1. The traumatic and urgent sense of insecurity and threats among nations.

 

  1. The preponderance of wars, famine, earthquakes, pestilences, etc.

 

  1. The degradation of society through moral decay, and the cultural abandonment of absolute truths.

 

  1. The unprecedented worldwide search for a process of humanistic and politically pragmatic peace.

 

  1. A historically unprecedented disrespect for the Prophetic word of God (scoffers, deniers, false teachings).

 

Jesus himself likened these “signs of the times” to the birth-pangs of a woman as she is about to deliver a child. He conveyed to us that the preponderance of these signs coming together would increase with frequency and intensity after Israel has been returned to its Promised Land. Israel is portrayed in Bible prophecy as a woman, “travailing” amongst the nations of the world, and giving birth to the Deliverer, and his Kingdom in Zion.

 

And she [Israel] being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

(Revelation 12:2)

 

 

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

 

The prophet Micah sums it up pretty well…..Micah 4:6-10:

 

I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation:  and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.   And you, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto you shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.  Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in your midst? Is your counselor perished? For pangs have taken you as a woman in travail.  Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O  daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail:  for now shall you go forth out of the city, and you shall dwell in the field, and you shall go even to Babylon; there shall you be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

 

The 1948 restoration of a remnant of the descendants of Jacob into the Promised Land for the second time in history swung the pendulum of the era of the Last Days forward, and began the countdown on the terminal generation that should witness the return of Jesus Christ to the world. Matthew 24:32-34:

 

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh:  so likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, until all these things are fulfilled.