Welcome back Bible prophecy friends! Yesterday we began a 3-day series based on Luke 21:28 (quoted above in the header). But, without a bit of context, you may be left swaying in the wind, wondering what in the world we are talking about! Well, pull up a chair to our virtual study table and let’s talk Bible prophecy!

In Luke 21 (and Matthew’s account in Matthew 24), Jesus’ disciples asked Him what the signs of the last days would be. So, He began to instruct them, telling them about the destruction of the Temple (which happened about 4 decades later); chaos throughout the world due to wars, famines and natural disasters; and about false Christs that would come. After all those things and more, we come to verse 28 of Luke 21 which gives us the encouragement to look up when we see these things begin to happen, as our redemption is near! Well, Bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes, and indeed, our redemption is near!

Yesterday we looked at three signs of the end times: Rise of One World Government, Rise of One World Global Economy, and Rise of One World Currency. We see those signs everywhere and many examples were provided in yesterday’s post.

Today, we’ll look at three more signs of the times through the lens of Scripture.

Growing Confusion and Misinformation

I bet you don’t have to think hard about the last time you heard an absolutely bold, outright lie. If so, just jump on social media or the internet, or turn on your TV. Misinformation…it’s all around us, and it’s cousin is confusion. The two run together, making mischief, and our world is full of it! We are lied to so much it is often difficult to find the truth! Jesus warned of this when He said:

⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 

~Matthew 24:4-5

The apostle Paul also warned:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.

~1 Timothy 4:1-2

Whoa! You mean those scoundrels are in the church as well? Of course! I told you it wasn’t difficult to think of the last time you heard a bold-faced lie! It’s easy to see the world do it, but do we expect it within our circle of Christian friends? We shouldn’t, but we must, at times. Deception and misinformation is everywhere, and we must be wise in the Word of God not to be taken under! (By the way….always measure what you read here by the truth of God’s Word. If it doesn’t pass muster, discard what you read here and trust God’s Word!)

Need we be reminded that Satan is the Chief Misinformation Officer? (John 8:44)

Growing Wickedness in the Heart of Mankind

I’m reminded immediately of 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Pull out your Bible or click the link and take a slow, deliberate read through those 5 verses. Did you notice…there are lovers of everything other than God! Does it describe today’s world?

The love of money, things, control, pleasure, etc and hatred toward all that is right and righteous is growing around us like an unkept jungle. At times, we’re in danger of being strangled by the worldliness that engulfs us. We’re told that we must tolerate certain things…so we do. Then, we’re told we must accept those things…so we do. Next, we’re told we must celebrate those things…so we do. Ultimately, we are told we must participate in those things…so we do. It seems every evil agenda follows that course and drags multitudes with it. It is the mode of operation for the antichrist.

¹⁸ Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 

~1 John 2:18

When love grows for things other than God, one begins to deny there is a God, and soon assumes the role himself. Wickedness of heart will lead to an attempt to be god of one’s own life. What a miserable proposition!

Wars and Rumors of Wars on a Global Scale

Back to one of our main passages, Matthew 24, where Jesus specifically names wars and rumors of wars as a sign of the last days (verse 6). Yes, there have been wars throughout history, but nothing on the grand scale and on so many fronts as what we will see in the last days. These things will come to pass, and we’re seeing aggression today that could spark wars on many fronts or could unite two or more sides against one another on a global scale.

Lest you just crawled from under a rock, here are just a few of the major conflicts that could blow up into catastrophic world war, complete with biological, nuclear and cyber weapons. Whether you are aware or not, many of these wars are already well underway. Some are obvious, others are very covert. But there is action on every one of these fronts:

• Russia vs Ukraine
• China vs Taiwan
• Iran vs Israel
• North Korea vs Japan
• China vs the US
• Venezuela vs the US
• Iran vs the US
• Russia vs the US
• Russia vs Israel
• Hezbollah (in Lebanon) vs Israel
• Hamas (in Gaza) vs Israel
• Palestinian Authority (in the West Bank) vs Israel
• Iran vs Saudi Arabia
• Turkey vs Saudi Arabia
• Houthis (in Yemen) vs Saudi Arabia
• India vs Pakistan
• …many, many more

²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.

~Luke 21:28

We won’t lose heart and we won’t lose focus. We will trust in the Lord and will look up as our redemption draws near! Join us tomorrow as we finish out our series on signs of the times.