The Scripture gives many signs that will tell us when the return of Christ is near. These signs are prevalent in our world today:

•    An increase in knowledge (Daniel 12:4).
•    An increase in demonic activity (Revelation 16:13-14, 1 Timothy 4:1-7)
•    An increase in lawlessness  (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
•    Departure from the faith (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
•    Rise of false teachings such as evolution (2 Peter 3:3-7)
•    Rise of false Christs (Matthew 24:4-24)
•    Increase in traffic and modern transportation (Nahum 2:4)
•    Poverty and economic instability (James 5:3-4)

Violence

Jesus also predicted that tension between nations would increase prior to the Second Coming.  

 

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12 NKJV).
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places (Matthew 24:7).

The Greek word for “nation” used here is ethnos, from which we get the word ethnic. Sadly, there may be talk of peace today, but ethnic violence is rife.

Moral Decay
During the time just before Christ’s Coming, moral corruption and intemperance will abound.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV).

The Bible also tells us that before Christ’s Second Coming, many will be indifferent to these warnings:

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37-39 NKJV).

Fear

…men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth… (Luke 21:26 NKJV).

 There will be a growing fear amongst people on Earth, as they contemplate the future of the planet and their own way of life. 

The escalation of fear in our society is marked. This includes not only fear from the peril of increased violence, but also terrorism, globalism, governmental control, economic failure, and disaster. A strange mixture of indifference and fear characterizes our time.

Be Alert
Of all these signs, the one with the greatest finality is this:

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

We are admonished to study the signs and to pay attention (Matthew 24:32-35). However, no one knows the time or the hour of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36, 25:13). The Bible does state that this event will take place at midnight, but this could simply mean the final moment. However, legislative decrees of governments also come into effect at midnight and universal decrees are legislated according to midnight at specific longitudes.

Since we cannot determine a specific time for Christ’s coming, all this tells us is that God will destroy sin at the final moment. We can see this through types and examples in the Bible:

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:29).

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand (Job 34:20).

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him (Matthew 25:6).

Strange as it may seem, few mainline Christian churches teach the Biblical Coming of Christ today. Most churches, if they preach about the Second Coming at all, preach a coming of Christ that will bring peace to the nations, but the Bible teaches a destruction of nations. They preach conversion of sinners at the coming of Christ when the Bible teaches that Christ will come to destroy sin and sinners. Let us carefully examine the evidence. 

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