Is there actual evidence that we are in the “end times”?
Is there proof that we are living in the last days before the return of Jesus the Messiah?While most Americans may find this belief strange, a significant minority of Americans do believe that they will see Jesus Christ actually return to earth while they are still alive.
One Associated Press survey revealed that 24% of American adults expect to still be alive when Jesus returns to this earth.
So is there any rational reason for anyone to expect that Jesus Christ could be coming back to earth during our lifetimes?
Well, many Christians would argue that there are ancient prophecies that are being fulfilled in our lifetimes right in front of our very eyes.
Below are just a few examples of these prophecies that are being fulfilled…..
1) The rebirth of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple.
Did you know that no nation that has ceased to exist has EVER come back into being after 2000 years of not being a nation?
But the Bible says that Israel would once again be a nation in the end times and that the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem.
See Ezekiel 37, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 11, etc.
Result: THAT HAPPENED AND IS HAPPENING
For more information on the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, go to the link below and click on “Preparations for the Rebuilding of the Temple”:
http://www.christian.tv/index.php?module=ctv&action=mediaCenter&cid=22
2) The rebirth of the Roman Empire.
Did you realize that the Bible predicts a resurgence of the Roman Empire in the last days?
See Daniel 2, Daniel 7, etc.
Result: THAT IS HAPPENING
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union
3) The Bible foretold that we would have to have a mark on our right hand or on our forehead to buy or sell.
See Revelation 13
Result: THAT IS HAPPENING – Are you ready for the soon coming Mark of the Beast?
http://themoralcollapseofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/09/uks-biggest-credit-card-provider-says.html
4) The Bible foretold that there would be an army of 200 million men.
Prior to the 20th century the population of the world was such that an army of that magnitude was absolutely inconceivable.
See Revelation 9:16
Result: THAT IS HAPPENING
http://www.trumpetmin.org/prophecy.htm
5) The Bible foretold a time when all the people of the earth would look upon God’s prophets in Jerusalem.
Before television and modern communications that would be IMPOSSIBLE.
But now, since the 20th century, the prophecy of Revelation 11:9 can literally be fulfilled.
See Revelation 11:9
The truth is that there is so much prophecy that is being fulfilled right in front of our eyes, and yet so many are willingly blind to it.
Did you also know that the second coming of Jesus the Messiah was written about in the Old Testament hundreds of years before Jesus even came the first time?
Check out the following amazing scriptures. In the book of Daniel, it talks about a “son of man” that is given “authority, glory and sovereign power” and that “men of every language” worship Him. It also says that His kingdom will NEVER be destroyed…..
Daniel 7:13-18
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
This next piece of Scripture from the book of Zechariah even tells us EXACTLY WHERE Jesus will return to this earth. (Hint: it is exactly the place where he left this earth from).
Zechariah 14:3-4
Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
So we know that when Jesus returns to earth it will be at the Mount of Olives and that the Mount of Olives will actually split in two at His return.
But sometimes non-believers will mock you when you tell them about the return of Christ.
In 2 Peter 3:3-4, the Bible even promises that people would mock the second coming of Jesus Christ in the last days….. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
Indeed, one of the objections you will run into when you start sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with people goes something like this:
“Well, the early Christians believed that Jesus would return in their lifetimes, and since He didn’t, then Christianity must not be true”.
Now, those of us who know the Word of God know this is totally false.
In fact, the Bible is VERY clear that Jesus would not return right away.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 we read this….. Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
We see here that the apostle Paul tells us that there are certain events that must occur before Jesus returns.
Among those things that must happen is that the “man of lawlessness” must be revealed. This “man of lawlessness” is most commonly referred to as the antichrist. This antichrist will cause extraordinary havoc during a 7 year period of time that the Bible calls “the Great Tribulation” (Revelation 7:15).
After that 7 year period of time of extreme difficulty and chaos, Jesus Christ will return in a moment that will be the most dramatic in all of human history. Matthew 24:29-30 describes what that moment will be like…..
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Are you looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ?
Are you ready for Him to return?
We live in truly extraordinary times, and we urge you to get ready for them by getting right with God.