The Signs of the End Times
Understanding the signs of the End Times is important in any Biblical prophecies. Surprisingly enough for most people who are unfamiliar about the scriptures, the Bible doesn’t use the expression “the End Times.” However, the prophet Daniel referred to the last 3 ½ years of world history as “the time of the End” (Dan. 11:35, 40; 12:9). For this reason, I prefer to say “the End Time” instead of “the End Times (plural).” I also do this because it is a common but confusing belief that “we are already living in the End Times.” They are said to have begun with the founding of Israel as a nation in 1948, augmented by the creation of the European Economic Community in 1958.
Since these two political entities needed to be in place for the events of the End to take place, they are said to have initiated the Last Days—and in a general sense this is true. However, whenever Jesus spoke of the final days, he referred to them as “the End” (Mat. 24:6, 13, 14) and made it clear that “the End” he was talking about referred to only the 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation. (See Mat. 24:15, 21.) Until that time of trouble begins, the Time of the End is not yet upon us.
We are, however, living in the days leading up to the Time of the End, and here are some fulfilled Bible prophecies that indicate this:
Israel becomes a nation again: The great Jewish Diaspora happened in 70 A.D., and for nearly 2,000 years they had no nation—yet for the apocalyptic events described in the Bible to happen, Israel had to exist again. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied two whole chapters (Eze.36–37) about the restoration of Israel. He said, “I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Eze. 36:24). The British took over Palestine in WWI and began allowing Jews to return and settle there. Then in May 14, 1948, the Israelis declared themselves an independent nation.
The Formation of the European Union: Daniel 7:7–8; 23–25 prophesied that a great beast (symbolizing the Roman Empire) would appear, and that it would have ten horns on its head. Daniel said, “The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.” Later, John prophesied in the days of the Roman Empire, “The ten horns … are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast [the Antichrist]” (Rev. 17:12). Yet when the barbarians invaded and Rome fell in 476 A.D., the world had to wait nearly 1,600 years for the former Roman provinces to re-unite. This happened with the creation of the European Economic Community in 1958, which became the European Union in 1993.
Vast Increase in Knowledge and Travel: Dan. 12:4 says, “But you, O 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.” For 2,000 years following this prophecy, knowledge grew at a steady, gradual pace, but by the 1930s, humanity’s cumulative knowledge doubled every 30 years; in the 1970s, it doubled every 7 years; by 2010, the world’s total reservoir of knowledge will double twice a day! Knowledge is being increased at a phenomenal rate in the years leading up to the Time of the End—at which point, the seals on Daniel’s prophecies will be removed and End Time events be fulfilled. Also, thanks also to our modern high-speed transportation systems, from automobiles to subways to jets, billions are traveling “to and fro” and flying all over the globe. These are sure signs that the Time of the End is rapidly approaching.
Other Biblical prophecies are also being fulfilled these days that strongly indicate that we are living in the days leading up to the End, and I discuss these in my book. I also talk about “indicators” that are commonly, but mistakenly, said to be signs of the End Times. It’s important to know the difference between the two.
