by Chad Daugherty

I’ve always loved the old steam engine trains in the western movies. The people would gather at the train station for their journey, but they were never certain about when the train would arrive. Delays often occurred due to fallen trees on the train tracks, robberies, Indian attacks, and other issues. Once the train arrived at the station the conductor would open the door, and the people would board the train ready to reach their destination. When most of the people were boarded the train’s engineer would sound a loud blast of the train’s whistle to warn the people that the train was about the leave the station. If they did not get on board then, they would be left behind.

In much the same way, in biblical prophecy we can see that the train is about to leave the station. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 we read about an event known as “The Rapture of the church.” It is a time when the Lord Jesus Christ will come in the clouds and will call his bride (the church) up to meet Him in the air and then return to Heaven with Him. Shortly after the rapture, the seven-year tribulation period will begin where God will bring judgment on this fallen world. God gave us clear signs through bible prophecy to know when these things were about to take place. In fact, Jesus told us we would know when it was near (Luke 21:29-32) and commanded us to watch for it (Mark 13:35-37). While we can’t know the exact day or hour, God has every intention for us to know when it is very near. He gave us biblical prophecy to determine the signs and the times, so we would be ready. He even told us that when we see those signs to rejoice for our redemption is near (Luke 21:29)! So, the question is: Are those signs taking place now? Let us take a look and see.

One of the first major signs was when Israel returned to the promised land and became a nation again which happened on May 14, 1948. In Matthew 21:18-19 we read where Jesus was walking with the disciples and He came upon a fig tree and seeing it had now fruit, He cursed it, and it withered. In scripture the fig tree often represents Israel, the leaves representing the Jewish people, and the fruit their obedience to God. This scripture in Matthew 21:18-19 is believed to be a prophecy Jesus was giving of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jewish people which would happen 70 years later when the Roman emperor Titus attacked and destroyed the city, and the Jewish people were dispersed for the next 2,000 years. The reason many believe Jesus was giving a prophecy over Israel is because He refers back to the fig tree when He was giving the signs of the end times to the disciples. After Jesus cursed the fig tree He continued to Jerusalem. When the disciples saw the temple, they commented on it and it’s buildings. Jesus responded by telling them that the temple and all of its buildings would be destroyed with not one stone remaining on another (Matthew 24:1-2). This statement disturbed the disciples, so when they arrived at the Mount of Olives, they asked Jesus to tell them when the things He had stated would happen and what would be the signs of His return and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3). Jesus began to give them a specific answer revealing the signs they asked for. He concludes the signs by referring the disciples back to the fig tree:

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:32-34

Jesus cursed the fig tree prophesying of the Jewish dispersion and then He prophesied of their return marking the sign of His return. He even went further and said the ones who saw the fig tree come back to life would see all things fulfilled. The return of Israel to their land is a major sign indicating we are in the season of Christ return.

Another sign which I feel is very prevalent in our world today is the wickedness, evil, and lack of love for one another. The Lord told us that when He returned it would be as it was in the days of Noah (Mattew 24:37-39). The days of Noah were marked by wickedness and evil which is one of the main reasons the Lord flooded the earth. Jesus told us that as we approach the end wickedness would increase and that love for one another would grow cold. All you have to do to see this sign being fulfilled is to turn on the news. Children are walking into schools and committing mass murder on other children. It is common to see helpless people being assaulted while onlookers just take video instead of helping. People get into fights in the parking lots over a parking space. Police are murdered in their police cars while taking a break. Looters overwhelm stores in gangs and pilfer anything they can take. Drug dealers have turned many streets in our cities into streets filled with people who resemble Zombies. The list could go on and on. Paul described the state of humanity in the last days:

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The signs of the days of Noah are all around us and are another sign that we are in the last days.

Finally, we will look at the nation of Israel and it’s enemies. The Bible gives clear prophecies of several enemies that will come against Israel in the last days. One such prophecy is given in Psalm 83 which list a group of peoples who want to destroy Isarel so that is no longer a nation. If you research the biblical names in Psalm 83, you will find these are the peoples who will be involved in this attack against Israel:

• Tents of Edom: Palestinians and Southern Jordanians
• Ishmaelites: Saudis (Ishmael is the father of the Arabs)
• Moab: Palestinians and Central Jordanians
• Hagrites: Egyptians (Hagar is the matriarch of Egypt)
• Gebal (Byblos): Hezbollah and Northern Lebanese
• Ammon: Palestinians and Northern Jordanians
• Amalek: Arabs of the Sinai area
• Philistia: Hamas of the Gaza Strip
• Tyre: Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese
• Assyria: Syrians and Northern Iraqi’

As you can in our news today many of these groups are already aligned and attacking Israel now. Another prophecy is given in Ezekiel 38 & 39 and is known as the Gog & Magog War. This war will consist of a coalition of nations that come against Israel. Russia (Gog) will lead the attack and will be joined by these nations:

• Persia is a reference to modern-day Iran.
• Cush describes present-day Ethiopia and the black nations of Central Africa.
• Put and Libya are located in northern Africa.
• Gomer is the people who settled in Germany.
• Beth Togarmah is Asia Minor and Turkey.

Scripture tells us that God will intervene and destroy these enemies of Israel. Iran and Russia have already established an alliance. Once again, we see the signs pointing toward the soon fulfillment of this prophecy.

These are just a few of the many things occurring today the indicate Jesus’s return is near. God has told us we would know when it was near. He commanded us to watch and that we would see it. He also told us to rejoice when we see it. Now is the time to start rejoicing if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Soon Jesus will come in the clouds with a loud command, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet call of God and those of us who have accepted Jesus as our savior will rise to meet Him in the air. Our wait will be over, and we will go to be with our God and King forever. However, if you have not accepted Jesus into your heart and life to be your Lord and savior then you will be left behind to endure the worst time to ever come upon the earth (Matthew 24:21). God loves you and that is not what He wants for you. Jesus died on a cross to save you from what is coming. All you need to do is accept his love and salvation by giving your heart and life to Jesus Christ. If you would like to know more about how to follow Christ, then please click this link: Receiving Christ. The engineer is sounding the whistle. The train is about the leave the station. Make sure you are on it!