Signs That His Coming Is Near

Introduction: After Yahushua had assured His disciples that He would return, they came to Him with the earnest inquiry : "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matthew 24: 3.

Yahushua's answer to this question was positive and clear. As recorded by Luke, He declared, "There shall be signs." (Luke 21:25). This was an encouraging assurance. Yahushua's people would not be left in darkness concerning this crowning event in the work of redemption. In this lesson, we will study only those things that are a primary application to return of Yahushua.

Signs in the Earth

1. How may we know when we have reached the very last days of this present earth's history? Does the Bible clearly describe the world and its people in the last generation?

Answer: Yes, indeed it does. Look at the following specific signs of the last days. You will be amazed. And these are just a few of many, many positive signs that show we are in the closing days of earth's history.

1. Deception through false Christs and false prophets (Matthew 24:4-5, 11-13)
2. Wars and rumours of wars. (Matthew 24:6)
3. Famines, diseases and earthquakes in many different places. (Matthew 24:7)
4. Yahuwah’s people will be persecuted, killed, and hated by every nation in the world. (Matthew 24:9)
5. The mark of the beast crisis will be fully engaged to persecute Yahuwah’s people. (Revelation 3:15-18)
6. A system will be set up where only those who receive the mark of the beast will be allowed to buy and sell. (Revelation 13:17)
7. Many false prophets and preachers will be in the world doing great signs and wonders and will deceive many people. (Matthew 24:11, 24)
8. Sin will be very abundant throughout the world, and love will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
9. The good news about Yahuwah’s love and His coming kingdom will be preached in all the world. (Matthew 24:14)
10. False Christs will appear throughout the world with great signs and wonders. Yahushua's return will be so successfully impersonated that many people will be deceived into thinking it is Yahushua, even though it is Satan himself or one of His agents. (Matthew 24:23-26)

2. What important question did the disciples ask Yahushua as He sat upon the Mount of Olives?

“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the world?" Matthew 24:3.

3. What was Yahushua’s first response and warning?

“Yahushua answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Anointed; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:4-5. “For false Christs. . . shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed” Mark 13:22,23.

Answer: Yahushua warns us in these verses not to be deceived when many come and claim to be Him. Today there are several people who make this claim. Satan himself will counterfeit Yahushua’s return with such brilliance and glory that nearly all the people of earth will be deceived and will bow down and worship him.

4. What conditions points to Yahushua’s return in the physical world?

"And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." Matthew 24:7

Answer: Famine and pestilences often accompany or follow great wars. After world War I, famine in China numbered fifteen million starving and three million dead. Russia's famine, according to the explorer, Nansen, was the "most appalling in the recorded history of man." The world's influenza epidemic took 18,000,000 lives. World War II had its own grim story of hunger and disease.

Earthquakes are another sign of Yahushua's return. Scientists estimate that as many as one million quakes a year may be taking place in the world, only about 8,000 of which are severe enough to be recorded. Of the more disastrous ones of comparatively recent times, we might list the following: 1920-- China, 180,000 killed; 1923-Japan, 143,000 lives lost; 1939-Central Turkey, 23,000 dead; 1950-Tibet, India, and Burma, 5,000 casualties.

5. Will there be deceptions through false prophets and teachers before the coming of Yahushua?

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11. “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” Mark 13:22,23.

Answer: Today, there are more than twenty-four persons who claim to be prophets. One of the Biblical tests of a true prophet of Yahuwah is that the prophet must be 100% accurate. A true prophet of Yahuwah is not permitted even one false prophecy, for if the message of the prophet came from Yahuwah, how could it be in error? Needless to say, of the prophets of the world today not one has a perfect record; they all make errors, and are, therefore, not prophets of Yahuwah. These false prophets are a sign of the end; they do, indeed, deceive many.

Signs in the Religious World

6. What is the strongest and most crucial sign in the religious world that points to the nearness of Yahushua's return?

Answer: According to the Bible prophecy of the last days found in the book of Revelation chapter 17, we are living under the eighth king, the last pope - Francis I. Yahuwah has informed us, in His written Word, that the eighth king will transform the Roman Catholic Church by bringing her out of her wilderness experience and back to her former persecuting-beast status. The eighth king will usher persecution for Yahuwah's people who obey His Commandments, including observance of His Sabbath day. The time of the eighth king/beast will witness hitherto unseen false miracles and signs, which will exalt the papacy in the eyes of all who are not written in the Book of Life: “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” Revelation 17:8.

Please click here for an in-depth study of the very important prophecy of Revelation 17.

Signs in the Political World

7. What three great signs did Yahushua say would appear in the political world?

Answer:

A. Fear and perplexity.

"There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear. and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:25-27.

B. Spirit of war.

"Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" Matthew 24:6-7. (Revelation 11:18; Joel 3:9-14).

NOTE: Yahushua tells us that there will be wars and rumors of wars. For the past several decades the world has had almost continual war and terrorism. Tensions among nations and among races driven by powerful Satanic forces continue to mount as the world moves farther and farther from the peaceful ideal most people desire.

C. Great efforts for peace.

"The day of the Master so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them." 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3. "They have healed also My people slightly saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Jeremiah 6:14.

NOTE: The accuracy of Bible prophecy is here demonstrated by predicting that, in the very midst of unprecedented preparation for war, there would be widespread talk of peace. The historian, Hazen, has confirmed this by saying, "The contemporary world, to a degree altogether unprecedented in history, has been dominated by the thought of war, by extraordinary preparations for war, and by zealous and concerted efforts for peace."

Signs in the Social World

8. What conditions will prevail in the social world in the last days?

"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, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Yahuwah; having a form of piety, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Answer: What an amazingly accurate prophecy! One would be hard-pressed to describe more accurately the general condition of the people of the world today.

A. lovers of their own selves:

We see here that men are lovers of themselves only, having very little regard for the well-being of others. In fact, society today has degenerated to the point where, as has happened many times, a woman can be attacked on a busy street in broad daylight, and no one comes to her aid.

The argument is sometimes heard that people have always been this way. Those who claim this are, in reality, ignorant of history, for as time progresses, the stature and character of the human being continue to become more base. Have you noticed the shift in focus in these last decades? Where formerly a man was admired as he sacrificed for family; country; Yahuwah.  But now a man boasts of  ‘Doing His Own Thing”, and people do not question it. Abandoning others so one can ‘Live His Own Life’ is the ‘IN’ thing!

And what about all the emphasis on ‘Self Gratification & Self Esteem? ‘Treat yourself: You deserve it!’ “Pamper yourself!” Where in the not too distant past, people lived worked and co-operated for the sake of their extended families; these days see even teens wanting their “Own Apartments” so they can ‘do as they please.’

B. COVETOUS:

People today are covetous, as the text indicates. People now want and want and want, even when they can't afford to have. Even what they have no right to have! Their thoughts are continually of themselves and how to get ahead in the world, how to get more money, how to get a better car or a larger house. People today use any means, no matter how immoral, to accomplish their purposes. They use others to their own advantage in their mad frenzy to get to the top or to find pleasure and to have fun. Never before in history have people been more caught up with ‘things’ and the latest gadgetry. Never before has credit been so available but still the cry is More! More! More!

C. BOASTERS:

The next characteristic of men in the last days mentioned in this text is that they are boasters. Dictionary: to praise yourself, or speak arrogantly about things you possess or have achieved.  We can see this throughout society, as people are very anxious for others to know of the great things they have done; but Yahuwah tells us in Proverbs 27:2 to “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”

D. PROUD:

Are people proud today? They strut around, feeling superior to those who have less. They are proud of their new cars, their fine homes, and especially their educations, for today in our humanistic society “education” has been made an object of worship. You may recall that it was pride that led to the fall of Lucifer out of heaven. Pride and Self-exaltation made a demon out of the brightest angel! People are so prideful, even those that claim to be “saved”!

E. Blasphemers:

Blasphemers are mentioned next, and today it seems as if many are unable to get through even one sentence without taking the name of Yahuwah in vain. Their speech has been given over to utter abandon as their foul phrases mock the very principles of truth and decency. The Bible states that a blasphemer is a person that claim themselves to be equal to Yahuwah or assumes His authority. There are groups that claim that man, over a process of time, can become a deity. Think about that! Yahuwah has placed His signature on all of creation. He has created something from nothing. No man or devil can do this!

A Blasphemer is also one who denies Yahuwah or insults Him. In our age we are seeing such Heaven-daring rudeness to Yahuwah as even criminals of the past would have feared to speak or do. And most people laugh at it!

F. disobedient to parents:

Are children disobedient to parents today, as the prophecy indicates? In the government schools, there is a distinct effort made to alienate the youth from their parents and to lower the standards of morality. Children today are taught that their parents are of the old-fashioned generation and are far behind the liberality and knowledge of modern times. As a result, the youth seem to have many ways to show their rebellion and contempt for their parents and for the traditional values of the past. In the past people still very much respected their parents. Today we see even small children screaming “I Hate You!” at their parent when they have been denied some small indulgence. Children will tell parents what they are going to do, like it or not! They have become manipulative of the parents for their own selfish desires. “As for my people, children are their oppressors…” Isaiah 3:12

G. unthankful:

Are people unthankful today as this prophecy indicates? Indeed, they are. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 8:18, “But thou shalt remember Yahuwah thy Eloah: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.” How many remember to thank Yahuwah for the many blessings and advantages He has given them? Most people today are totally unthankful and unholy, without ever a thought of Yahuwah except to blaspheme His name.

Parents have taught their children to expect gifts just because of what day it is - and the attitude is that this is their right! They also have no sense of the debt they owe to their Creator and Redeemer!

H. Unholy:

The Bible states that we are to be holy because Yahuwah is Holy. The character of Yahuwah is that He cannot tolerate SIN. Yet we as a people of Yahuwah tolerate sin in our body on a continual basis. We explain it away by saying, “Surely Yahuwah.........” (Before we finish the statement.... that is blasphemy). We cannot begin to imagine what Yahuwah would allow in our body. We cannot begin to imagine how Yahuwah thinks! We must take heed to His Word!

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9.

I. without natural affection:

Verse 3 mentions that in the last days men will be without natural affection. Dictionary: without feelings of gratitude. People are not thankful. They believe that the world owes them a living whether they earn it or not. 

This refers not only to the alienation of children from parents but also to the homosexuality abounding in our world; those who practice this sin even demand respectability. This sin is just one more of the many signs that the end of the earth is very near.

J. Trucebreakers:

Trucebreakers are mentioned next. Breaking agreements and promises whenever it is convenient to do so. In our present world, the politicians of various nations sit around conference tables working out agreements, very few of which are honored.

K. False Accusers:

To charge somebody falsely who is not guilty of crime or what we accuse them of.

L. INCONTINENT:

“Incontinent” means without self control. In these last days, the people of earth are indeed without self control; they have thrown off all restraints and cater to every appetite and desire. Today, licentiousness is rampant among both the worldy and professed Christians.

M. Fierce:

Showing aggression or anger. More and more people are impatient and quick to wrath than ever before. People will blow you away for cutting them off in traffic. That men are fierce is evident from the cruelty and brutality so prevalent in the world today.

N. Despisers of those that are good:

We at World Last Chance, remember when good and well doing was admired and promoted on movies and in books. Today the character shown as ‘good’ in a story is usually ridiculed or played down while the wicked are held up as being ‘realistic’.

Many a young person does wickedly merely so his friends won’t call him a sissy or a ‘goody-goody’. Time after time on TV and even cartoons we see the studious and hard-working set out as ‘geeks’ or misfits and the sexually pure are mocked as ‘not with it’ or ‘prudes’. Even those who want to uphold right will usually say, “well everyone has their own opinions. This is what is right for me!” Rarely do we hear: “This is WRONG!” and almost never: “This is SIN!”

O. Traitors:

Those who betray the trust of others, and behave in a disloyal or treacherous manner.

P. HEADY:

“Heady” means stubborn and headstrong. “If it feels good- Do it!”

Q. HIGHMINDED:

“Highminded” means conceited. To inflate ones-self with self-conceit, to be lifted up with pride. To think oneself highly important. These characteristics of men are widespread throughout the world today.

R. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of Yahuwah:

There has not been any other time in these past two thousand years, since this book of Timothy has been written, that people love their pleasures and entertainment more than they do today. Certainly they love pleasure more than they love Yahuwah! Even their ‘worship’ of Yahuwah centers on indulgence, church suppers, and entertainment.

In these last days it seems as if people work very hard at having pleasure. All week they think about and plan what they will do on the weekend to have fun. They spend vast sums of money on their selfish pleasures, going deeply into debt. They ignore Yahuwah and His business, which is by far more important than the inanities people become involved in. But Yahuwah said this would happen in the last days.

S. Having a form of piety but denying the power thereof:

Of all this amazing prophecy, this item is perhaps the greatest sign of our times! Never has religion been so widely accepted among the worldly minded – and never before has so much worldliness been accepted and welcomed into the ekklesia! In the past, ‘getting religion’ was associated with repenting and turning from at least the grosser sins. Now it means socializing and indulgence, entertainment and anything goes.

But if you start to talk of the POWER of Yahuwah to free the life from sin, people turn away. If you have a problem You will be advised to go to counselors, self-help seminars, therapy groups. The POWER of Yahuwah is pushed aside and Humanism stands in its place. The first question is not ‘What is Truth?’ but ‘What organization or group do you belong to?’

The Old Testament warned of our day also. “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men". Proverbs 30:11-14.

9. What are we advised to do when we see these things?

"From such turn away." 2Timothy 3:5. “That which ye have already hold fast till I come.” Revelation 2:25.

10. What are we to turn to?

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:18-20

Signs in the Economic World

11. What conditions point to Yahushua’s return in the economic world?

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your field, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Master of hosts. Ye have lived in pleasure on earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” James 5: 1-6.

Answer: As "the coming of the Master draweth nigh," the age long conflict between employer and employee is destined to assume larger proportions. Now it is no longer one individual bargaining with another. Instead great corporations negotiate with the organized forces of labor, representing millions of workers. Since the dispute between management and labor will not end until Yahushua comes, the Christian is urged to be patient until that time"

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Master. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Master draweth nigh." James 5:7-8.

Increase of Knowledge

12. What two great changes were to appear in “the time of the end”?

"But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Daniel 12:4.

Answer: The past 150 years stand apart from all previous history by reason of the sudden increase of knowledge in science, general learning, and invention. The patriarch, Abraham, who lived four thousand years ago, would hardly be more startled by the tremendous changes than would George Washington, who died just before the nineteenth century began.

The great increase of knowledge concerning Yahuwah's Word has been as extraordinary as advances in the world of science. Whereas the Bible was available only to a comparatively few two centuries ago, today it is being circulated on a worldwide scale, by hundreds of millions of copies. This has largely been accomplished since the great Bible societies were organized after 1798. Truly we are living in "the time of the end."

Daniel's prediction that "many shall run to and fro" has likewise received most striking fulfillment. Many commentators believe that this expression refers primarily to the increased activity in searching the Bible and its prophecies that has been evident during the past century. Although we recognize this as its first application, beyond a doubt it also forecasts the tremendous increase of travel on a grand scale that has characterized the past fifty years. The restless populations of the world are on the move by foot, automobile, rail, ship, and airplane. No longer do the great oceans isolate continents and nations; for air travel has shrunk distances until statesmen transact business today in foreign capitals across the seas, and tomorrow they can be back in their own offices.

Other Signs in the Religious World

13. What other four outstanding signs are in the religious world?

Answer:

A. Scoffers.

"Know this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying. Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 2 Peter 3:3-4.

B. The gospel shall be preached in all the world.

"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.

Answer: The message of Yahushua's sacrifice on the cross and His soon return is being sounded in about eight hundred language and dialect areas of the world. Missionaries have roamed this entire world preaching the Gospel of Yahushua’s kingdom. The Gospel, in fact, is being preached even in places where one would not expect it to be. Recently a report was carried out of Red China by one of the people who managed to escape. This report told of a minister who had two Bibles. When the police came to confiscate all the Bibles in the area, the minister kept one at the risk of his life. If he is caught he will suffer a most brutal death, for the communists, in order to terrorize the people into obedience, make examples of those who disobey. This minister has a large congregation which meets secretly to copy pages from his old, worn out Bible so that they may have the privilege of reading a few precious pages of Scripture. This Gospel of the kingdom has indeed been preached in all the world. The end is very near.

C. Lack of love.

"Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:12.

Answer: Many, seeing hypocrisy even in some ekklesia members and almost universal corruption elsewhere in the world, lose courage and love grows cold.

D. Lack of faith.

"When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8.

Answer: The parable of Luke 18: 1-8 indicates that the prayer of faith will be almost nonexistent "when the Son of man cometh." This is understandable, for modernistic teaching has undermined belief in Yahuwah as a real being.

Signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars

14. What three unusual sights in the heavens were foretold as signs of the end?

"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 morn. and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" Matthew 24:29-30. (Joel 3: 15; Revelation 6: 1213).

Answer: The great period of tribulation mentioned in connection with these unusual sights in the heavens is known in history as the Dark Ages. As you will learn, Yahuwah had revealed, through Daniel, the prophet (Daniel 7:25), that this time of papal supremacy would commence in AD. 538 and last until AD. 1798 Public persecution ceased, however, about 25 years before the full 1,260 years had elapsed, due to the combined influence of the Protestant Reformation and the opportunities for religious freedom in America.

Now note the accuracy of Yahushua's prediction in Mark 13:24, where He says, "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." The first of these signs appeared after persecution ended, "in those days," or shortly before 1798. Yahuwah's Word never fails: hence on May 19, 1780, the sun was darkened. Early in the day the birds disappeared, domestic fowl went to roost, and grazing cattle in the pasture wended their way toward the barnyard. That same night the moon was darkened and gave the appearance of blood (Revelation 6: 12).

"The stars shall fall from heaven," These, of necessity, would be shooting stars. As predicted, the greatest meteoric shower ever recorded seemed to set the very heavens ablaze on the night of November 13, 1833. The minds of men were made sober at the time, and contemporary writings indicate that many feared the final day of judgment had come.

However, not all aspects were complete and Yahushua did not return, so we look to the future for the complete fulfillment as detailed in this link: https://www.worldslastchance.com/end-time-prophecy/7-seals-checklist.html

His Coming Is Too Close

15. How near is Yahushua’s coming when we see all these signs?

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall sees all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Matthew 24:32-34.

Answer: The Bible is very specific and plain on this point. The signs have almost all been fulfilled. We cannot know the exact day and hour of Yahushua's return (Matthew 24:36), but we can be confident that we are the people who will live to see Yahushua return. Yahuwah has promised to finish things very quickly now and cut the work short (Romans 9:28). Yahushua is coming back to this earth very soon. Are you ready?

16. What attitude of life should we maintain in these days of expectation?

"Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking' marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be . . Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Master doth come." Matthew 24:36-42.

Answer: The people of Noah's day had received adequate warning of the coming Flood, but they were afflicted with the same sins that beset modern man - unbelief, preoccupation with pleasure seeking, and procrastination.

To the people of His day, Yahushua said, "0 fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24:25).

In His great love, Yahuwah has given us many signs that show Yahushua's coming to be near. These signs have been given that we and our dear ones may be ready when He comes. Are you not grateful for the evidences all about us that indicate that soon we shall see Yahushua face to face? The world around us may be in perplexity and strife, but we can rejoice that soon all this will pass away and an eternity with Yahushua will stretch out before us. There is no doubt about it. If we follow the advice of Yahushua to "watch therefore," we will be ready.

Dear WLC member: Have you made the necessary preparation? Have you asked Yahushua to be Ruler of your life?