The last days. In  John 14: 1-3, Jesus tells His disciples:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God and also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus knew He would be leaving His disciples soon and He was preparing them to deal with His absence positively. This word is not only to the disciples but for all Christians and people of God.  If Jesus is going to come again, how do we know when, so we can prepare. Mark 13.32 says that:

But of that day and (that) hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

According to this verse, no one knows when, not even Jesus, only God the father knows when. The only way, we can know that the coming of Jesus is near, or we are in the last days or the end is near is when we see certain signs and occurrences. What are some of these signs? The following verses state some of the signs we would see.

2 Timothy 3 : 1-5

This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than God. Having a form of godiliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.

These verses show that there would be increase of crime and hatred and we are witnessing all that in the word today. We are, therefore, in the end times.

Matthew 24 : 7:

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes in diverse places.

This is already happening. There are wars, conflicts and misunderstandings in certain areas of the world. Some nations are experiencing famine. All these are signs that we are in the last days.

1 Timothy 4 : 1

Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Currently, there are reports of strange things being done by some churches.  This another sign that we are in the last days.

Luke 21 :25

And there shall be signs in the sun and the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.

It can be said that changes in the sun and moon represents global warming and climate changes in all nations of the earth. Experts say global warming and climate changes could have adverse effects on living things, humans, animals and plants if not controlled. Another sign of the end time.

How do we deal with these occurrences? The answers can be found in

Luke 21 : 36

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man.

Revelations 3 : 3

Remember, therefore, what thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore, thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

We are to watch and pray always, so that we live as God expects us to. Obeying His commands and seeking to please Him always. Then when Jesus comes we would be ready to go with Him.

 

• Two important spiritual events

There are two spiritual events that have to be fulfilled before the end comes. They are :

Joel 2 :28

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Acts 2: 17

In the last days, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The message in Joel 2 ; 28 is repeated in Acts 2 : 17. This is an indication that the outpouring of God’s spirit on all flesh is very important. Furthermore, in Matthew 24 : 4, we are told that the gospel must be preached to all nations. The word “all” is  very important. God is a just God and He wants everybody in the world to hear the message of salvation and take a decision before Jesus comes.

As Christians we cannot just sit and wait for the end to come. If we just wait, there is a probability that most of us would lose our salvation because the bible says there would be perilous times,…no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, the  name of the beast or the number of its name (Revelations 13 : 17) . Once you have the mark of the beast you have lost your salvation, you are no longer a child of God but the devil’s property.

Therefore, as Christians we are to pray for God to hasten Jesus’s coming by   fulfilling the great out pouring of the spirit and also the spreading the word to all nations. This is the time that the church of God should embark on crusades and evangelism all over.

Every church should also educate and prepare its youth. The youth should be encouraged to witness with their life testimony, their deeds and also evangelize with music, dance and drama. These are things the youth love to do.

 

• Conclusion/Recommendation

If you study the signs of the end times in the bible, it is evident that almost all the signs can be seen in the world today. Some of them were mentioned in the first part of this article. The end will soon come so let us watch and pray that God hastens the coming of Jesus by shortening the time of the great tribulation (the time of the reign of the beast)

Matthew 24 : 29

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 Son of man in the 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.

Revelations 13 ; 18

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred, three score and six (666).

Pastors, teachers of the word, prophets, leaders and all workers in the vineyard of God. Please spend time teaching about the end time at least once every year. Alert your church members and help them prepare for this time for no one knows how soon or how near the second coming of Jesus is.

Jesus said in Revelations 22 :12

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me; to give every man according as his work shall be.

By Evangeline Esaaba Folson

 References

1. Google bible
2. King James Bible
3. Search the Bible; Bible verses about signs of the end times.
4. 100 Bible verses about signs of the end times.