The End Times Are Now
Jewish control of Jerusalem is one of the most important signs
of the End Times, because of Jesus' statement in Luke 21:24. The
disciples had asked Him, "When are you going to return and what
will be the sign ?" Jesus replied, "Jerusalem shall fall by the
edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all
nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." What was the
Savior saying? Simply that the Jews would be scattered
throughout the world and the city of Jerusalem controlled by
Gentile powers until the time of His return. All the various
Gentile groups--the Romans, the Persians, the Crusaders, the
Egyptians, and others controlled Jerusalem from A.D. 70 until
May 1967. Then, in June 1967 the Jews took control of Jerusalem
for the first time in more than nineteen hundred years.
The disciples also asked jesus, not only what the signs would be
that signal the countdown to his return, but also what the signs
of the actual end times would be. There are many signs we are
told that we will see in the last days just before jesus
returns, they include:
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Earthquakes - Famines - Pestilences - Signs in space (sun,
moons, stars, planets)
Luke 21:11 (King James Version) - "And great earthquakes shall
be in divers (various, several) places, and famines, and
pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be
from heaven."
Famines: Since 1975 to present, there has never been a year,
that there wasn't a famine some place on the earth.
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Earthquakes: Earthquakes are happening more frequently and are
getting stronger. From 1920 - 1990 a period of 70 years, there
was 10 Major Quakes. From 1990 - 2005 a period of 15 years,
there was 15 Major Quakes. And this is only the major quakes, in
the year 2000 there were 22,256 total earthquakes detected. In
2004 there was 31,199. of course most were not even hardly
noticed or occurred in unpopulated areas, but there numbers are
growing rapidly every year, as well as the major quakes.
The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction
Just reported that between 1950 to 1959 there was 20 Major
calamities costing $38 Million (1989 Dollar Value), in 1990 to
1999 there was 82 Major calamities costing $535 Billion.
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Pestilences: Since the 1980's to present the number of new
diseases that have formed is incredible. We now have SARS - AIDS
- Herpes - West Nile - New Drug resistant TB - Mad Cow - New
monkey pox virus with human-to-human transmission - and now the
H5N1 (avian bird flu). Data shows that both the incidence and
severity of outbreaks of multi-drug-resistant pathogens have
experienced a sharp upturn within the past 10 years. For
example, Salmonella infections have gone up 25-fold in some
countries in Europe since 1998. Similar increases are reported
for haemorrhagic E. coli 0157 food poisoning: between 2002 and
2005, the frequency of infection increased 10 - fold in England
and Wales, and 100 - fold in Scotland.
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Signs in the sun and space: The sun has been going wild, every
11 years or so we were told that the sun goes through cycles
where it produces numerous solar flares or storms. This past
cycle has been the strongest and strangest ever recorded since
scientists and others have been studying solar activity, because
even though the time for this solar phase should have passed.
the sun is still producing massive flares and outbursts, and
it's getting worse. In fact the sun is getting brighter and
hotter each recent year. This increase in warmth from the sun is
warming the entire planet, and global warming is not longer just
speculative, it's a fact. The 14 hottest years ever recorded
occurred after 1980.
The U.S. Geological Survey says Antarica is warmer now then it
has been anytime in the past 4000 years. Half the glacier ice in
the European Alps has disapeared in this century.
The following news reports were just released: 'Warmest
September Globally Since Beginning Of Reliable Instruments: The
United States experienced its fourth warmest September on
record, while global land surface temperatures were the warmest
on record for the month, according to scientists at the NOAA
National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.' and it's not
just the U.S. but reports are coming in from around the globe,
here's one from Australia: 'Australia headed for hottest year on
record - SYDNEY (AFP) Nov 14, 2005 - Australia is having its
hottest year on record and experts blame global warming for the
trend, the government weather bureau reported Monday.
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Signs in society - peoples thinking and actions:
2 Timothy 3:1-4 (King James Version) - "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 God."
These things are occurring every day and it seems everyplace,
listen to peoples conversations, read the newspapers, watch tv
shows, etc.... morals and putting others before ones-self are
thinking that is almost gone. Sinful thoughts, and sexual
perversion is becoming a common way of life.
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Preachers will not preach the biblical truth, and many will seek
false and evil religions:
1 Timothy 4:1 - "The Spirit clearly says that in later times
some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and
things taught by demons."
Churches and sermons have become watered-down to please church
members. Many Pastors don't preach sermons anymore on the
horrors of hell and the effects of sin. They have begun
preaching about an all loving god, that loves everyone. This is
true he does, but he is also a holy god, that cannot tolerate
sin. And if someone lives a life of sin, they will be cast into
hell. If you accept Jesus Christ as lord and saviour, the bible
says you must also repent, a dictionary explanation for 'repent'
says: 'To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's
mind regarding it', so you cannot just ask for salvation, then
live your old life, the bible clearly tells us that, read this
carefuly, it's right from the bible: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - "Do
you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual
offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Some Pastors are now even saying that Jesus Christ is not the
only way to Heaven. We have removed the biblical truth and facts
and have replaced it with what people want to hear, so they can
continue their ways of living a life of sin.
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Wars and rumors of wars:
The 20th century has been known as the century of warfare. We
have had the big ones of course like World War 1, and World War
2, and the cold war (the ultimate era of 'rumors of war'), we
also had the vietnam war, korean war, and literally hundreds of
other battles, including the gulf wars and other middle east
conflicts to the present day rumors of possible war with Iran
and North Korea over their nuclear programs.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Ethnic unrest and tribal warfare has killed millions in this
generation alone, and it's getting worse.
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Massive Hurricanes and freak storms:
Does the bible mention Hurricanes when it tells of signs of the
Lords return ? It sure does, Jesus tells the disciples in Luke
21:25: "And 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." See them last 6
words: 'the sea and the waves roaring', the exact effects of
hurricanes. 2004 was said to have been the costliest hurricane
season on record, that was true until the 2005 hurricance
season. At the end of Oct 2005, Beta, the 26th named storm of a
record Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall near La Barra,
Nicaragua. And now on Fri, Dec 30 2005 we have this NEWS -
Tropical Storm Zeta drifts across the Atlantic. The 27th named
storm of a record-breaking hurricane season, Zeta had top
sustained winds near 50 mph, according to the National Hurricane
Center in Miami. Forecasters said Zeta was not expected to
become a hurricane or threaten land. This Atlantic hurricane
season has seen more named tropical storms and hurricanes than
at any point since record-keeping began in 1851.
Here in Northeast Pennsylvania, from November 6-12, we were
struck with multiple severe thunderstorms and a tornado watch.
This wouldn't be anything abnormal if it was summer, but this is
November and we had not only multiple severe thunderstorms but a
tornado watch and then a warning. According to local tv
weathermen, we have never had as many severe thunderstorms and a
tornado warning in this area so late in the year since record
keeping began.
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I could go on and on, but this article would be to large for
what I wanted. The facts are plain and simple folks, according
to what jesus and the bible says, the signs of the end times are
happening right now. There are some folks that say 'oh it says
in the bible that the city of Damacus in Syria will be
destroyed' and this hasn't happened yet, or something else
hasn't happened yet. yes, that is very true but the signs that
have happened or are occurring are the ones that the bible says
will signal the return of Jesus, the other signs may occur
during the great tribulation after his return.
So what does it all mean, 'The time of Jesus Christ's return is
here !', I believe the countdown began in 1967 when the Jews
took control of Jerusalem. .
Jesus told his disciples that the Generation that sees these
things, 'The creation of israel as a nation, and most
importantly 'Jerusalem under jewish control (1967) "This
generation will not pass away (die)", before he (Jesus) Returns.
So how long is a generation in the bible ? bible scholars used
to say a generation is 40 years. So if the countdown to the 'end
times' began in 1967 when the Jews re-took control of Jersualem,
Christ may return (rapture of believers) before Dec 31, 2007.
Now some other bible experts like 'Jack Van Impe' are saying
that a biblical generation is 52 years. This is pretty amazing,
because it falls in line with some other amazing date
predictions. If the end time countdown began in 1967 when the
Jews re-took control of Jersuale, and if you add 52 years to
that date, that gives you the year 2019. Now if we subtract 7
years from 2019 (7 years being the time of the tribulation
period), that gives us the date 2012. Strangely, both the Mayan
and Aztec calendars end on the year 2012, predicting some major
event that changes the whole earth in that year. Is this event
the rapture, the return of Christ ? When it comes to exact dates
nobody on the earth really knows when Jesus will return. Jesus
himself says no man knows the day or the hour when he will
return. In Mark 13:32 (KJV) -- "But of that day and that hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither
the Son, but the Father." But Jesus doesn't say we cannot know
or figure out the year that he may come.
I say, don't wait for the year 2012, I believe the time may be
much shorter, the best thing to do is to be ready, give your
heart and life to Jesus today, except his free gift of salvation
through Jesus Christ before it's too late. You never know if you
will have a tomorrow, a car wreck, heart attack, stroke, murder,
or the return of the lord may happen this very hour, and then
it's too late. All you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ
died for your sins, and ask him to forgive you of your sins, say
the 'sinners prayer below' then repent, change your lifestyle
and thinking by not living in sin, and if possible start going
to a bible believing Church whenever you can, and be baptised if
possible. The gift of eternal life is a free gift from the lord
Jesus, all you have to do is want it, and ask for it. Here is a
simple sinners prayer, it's all you need to say, just believe
it: "God I know and confess that I am a sinner in need of your
forgiveness, I believe that your son Jesus Christ died on the
cross for my sins. I now accept and receive Jesus's pardon for
my sins, I want Jesus into my heart and life as my personal
saviour, forgive me lord and save me, Amen'. If you have just
prayed that simple prayer and believed, you are now granted the
gift of eternal life, Praise the Lord.
As I finish this article, the year 2005 has now ended, and 2006
has just begun, I sit here wondering what terrible things will
happen in the world, and in our own country this year, but as
the Bible says. "Don't let you heart be troubled, all these
things (end time signs) must occur, but look up for your
redemption draws near."
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If you want to learn a lot more about end time events that are
happening every day, and Biblical things such as the Rapture,
Armageddon, the Tribulation and more, then visit this website: '
Signs Of The End Times ', for daily End Times news articles, and
lots of other great Christian reading. The ' Signs Of The End
Times ', Website can be found here: http://www.rb59.com/end-times
By Robert W. Benjamin Copyright