Every generation since Jesus Christ walked the face of the Earth has believed they may very well be the "final" generation before the end of time. Eventually, one generation will be right. How do followers of Jesus Christ discern the times and identify the end of time? The Bible addresses these matters in both the Old and New Testaments.
In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel, during the exile in Babylon, received revelation from the Lord regarding the end of the world. It was spectacular for Daniel to experience, but also deeply troubling and difficult to reconcile. It has been thousands of years since Daniel lived on planet Earth and received these revelations from the Lord.
It could be argued that he had some "bad pizza" the night before, but as the New Testament reveals, his words, visions, and dreams were spot on in comparison to the words, visions, and dreams revealed to the New Testament writers as well and confirmed by Jesus Himself in the Gospels.
Some interpretations divide Daniel's prophecies between historical fulfillments (Antiochus Epiphanes) and future events (the Antichrist), while many evangelical perspectives view chapters 7-12 as primarily focusing on the final end-times tribulation.
Key passages regarding the end times in the Book of Daniel include Daniel 7, the four beasts and the little horn. This vision describes four kingdoms and a final, powerful "little horn" (Antichrist) that will speak against God and persecute saints for "a time, times, and half of time."
Daniel 8:17,19 records the vision of the ram and the goat. These visions pertain to the time of the end and the appointed time of the end. Daniel 9:24-27: the 70-week prophecy details 490 years regarding Israel, culminating in the death of the Messiah, the destruction of the Temple, and the final 7-year "tribulation week" in which the people ally with the Anti-Christ. Daniel 10-12 records Daniel's final vision.
Daniel 11:40-45 describes the "king of the North" invading the Middle East at the "time of the end." Daniel 12 mentions a time of unprecedented trouble (the Great Tribulation), predicts the final resurrection of the dead, and references 1290- and 1335-day periods connected to the setting up of the "abomination that causes desolation."
All these visions and dreams of Daniel thousands of years ago are key background clues to the signs to look for as the end of time approaches.
Biblical Sign #1: False Messiahs and the Rise of the Antichrist Spirit
Matthew 24:5-14, known as the Olivet Discourse, is where Jesus lists the seven signs of the birth pains to come that trigger the end of time. The first sign is that Jesus tells the disciples many will come in his name, saying, "I am the Christ," to lead many astray. This is the "spirit of the antichrist" and the triggering of the eventual antichrist, as well as Israel's alignment with him.
Biblical Sign #2: Global Conflict and Escalating Wars
The second sign that the biblical tribulation is beginning is found in Matthew 24:7: nations will rise against nations, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be global wars between countries, nations, and continents.
Biblical Sign #3: Worldwide Persecution of Believers
The third sign that the biblical tribulation is beginning is found in Matthew 24:9. People of faith in Jesus across the globe will be delivered up to tribulation and put to death. All nations will hate Christians for Jesus' name's sake.
Biblical Sign #4: Apostasy, Betrayal, and Division Among Believers
The fourth sign of the biblical tribulation is found in Matthew 24:10, "Many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another." Those who once walked hand in hand in faith with Jesus will turn on one another, betray one another, and sadly, hate one another.
Biblical Sign #5: The Proliferation of False Prophets and Deceptive Teaching
During this time of great betrayal and hatred among believers in Jesus, Matthew 24:11 gives the fifth sign of the biblical tribulation: "many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." Sadly, because of the great grief, division, and cost to follow Jesus, false prophets will arise, and many will be led astray by their false teachings for perceived self-preservation. The Apostle Paul also spoke about this in the book of Timothy.
Biblical Sign #6: Lawlessness and the Cooling of Love
The sixth sign that the biblical tribulation is beginning is found in Matthew 24:12: Lawlessness will increase, and the love of many will grow cold toward Jesus and His people. This will be a devastating time of broken relationships, significant relationships that turn on one another out of hatred for the law and authority and the fear of being killed for their faith.
Biblical Sign #7: The Gospel Proclaimed to All Nations Before the End
The seventh and final sign of the biblical tribulation is found in Matthew 24:13. The Gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Technological readiness is enabling this last sign to be fulfilled. Conditions suitable for a one-world government and the tracking of all purchases are developing, as mentioned in Revelation 13.
These seven biblical signs will usher in the end of time and the eternal reign of Jesus' Kingdom on Earth.
Revelation 6 seems to be the passage that shows the breaking of the seals of each of these signs from conquest to war to famine, and to death. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 mentions the apostasy and the revealing of the man of lawlessness.
Some evangelical scholars believe that the "church age" will not go through the Tribulation or at least not the last half of the Tribulation. Many scholars argue that the trumpet mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is cross-referenced with the trumpets in Revelation 8-11 and that the church and those who believe in Jesus will be ushered out through what scholars call "The Rapture."
But only time will tell if this interpretation is correct and the church is "Raptured out" before these end-time tragic signs unfold. Either way, faith in Jesus remains paramount for eternal life before, during, and after these great signs occur, leading to the Great Tribulation and the end of time.
