The Last Days
The Bible describes events and conditions that mark this significant time period. "The sign" is a composite one made up of many evidences; thus its fulfillment requires that all aspects of the sign be clearly in evidence during one generation. The various aspects of the sign are recorded at Matthew chapters 24, 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21; there are further details at 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Peter 3:3, 4, and Revelation 6:1-8. For now, let's consider a few parts of that sign.
Consider the scene. Jesus has just ridden into Jerusalem and presented himself as the chosen King of God's Kingdom. His disciples, however, know that it is not yet time for him to begin reigning as King. They want to know when.
"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:7)
War has tainted life on the earth for thousands of years, both on an international and civil level. But beginning in 1914 the first world war was fought. For the first time, all the major powers were at war. Entire nations - including civilian populations - were mobilized to support the war effort. It is estimated that by the end of the war 93% of the population of the world was involved. As foretold at Revelation 6:4, "Peace was taken away from the earth." Thus the world has continued to be in a state of upheaval ever since 1914. World War II was fought from 1939 to 1945. According to retired Admiral Gene La Rocque, as of 1982 there had been another 270 wars since 1945. Over 100 million people have been slaughtered in warfare during this century, soldiers and civilians alike. These wars have been far different from wars fought in the previous centuries. Now there are bombs, tanks, and thousands of weapons that can be wielded by a single individual and in one strike, extinguish hundreds of lives or more, much different from "the age of the sword." Now armies can slaughter each other without needing to look into the eyes of their victims.
Jesus' words just prior to this are also worthy of note.
"You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars." (Matthew 24:6)
There is a difference between a war occurring somewhere and there being widespread, detailed knowledge of it. Our current technology makes this possible. A civilian in a war zone need only pull out his cell phone and press record to capture footage of a battle, explosion, or things of that nature. Should he be lucky enough to survive such a recording, the video is uploaded to YouTube and then proceeds to make millions of views until it is censored by the government. Wars may have occurred in previous centuries, but there were never so many reporters on the scene as there are now.
"There will be food shortages...in one place after another." (Matthew 24:7)
There have been many famines in human history. To what extent was the 20th century afflicted by them? World war led to widespread starvation in Europe and Asia. Africa has been stricken by drought, resulting in extensive food shortages. Late in 1980 the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated hat 450 million people were hungry to the point of starvation, and up to a billion did not have enough to eat. Of these, some 40 million a year actually die - in some years as many as 50 million - because of the shortage of food.
Is anything different about these food shortages? Revelation 6:6 indicated that a small quantity of such staples as wheat or barley would be selling for a day's wage (a denarius; see Matthew 20:2) but that supplies of such items as olive oil and wine used by people who are well-to-do would not be harmed. So apparently many would suffer shortage while other could still get what they wanted. This situation is no longer local, but global. In 1981 The New York Times reported: "The improvement in living standards and the growing demand for food around the world have put pressure on food prices, making it harder for the poorest countries to import their food needs." In many lands the production of food, even with the aid of modern science has not been able to keep the pace with the increase in total population. Modern food experts see no real solution to the problem. (Even if oil companies stopped putting food products into our car engines, there would still be a shortage.)
"There will be great earthquakes." (Luke 21:11)
Between 1900 and 1969, the occurrence of earthquakes that caused fatalities ranged between 34 and 71 per decade. Then, suddenly in the 1970s, the occurrence of deadly earthquakes jumped to the triple digits, landing at 129. Since then that number has only been increasing with 157 in the 1980s, 145 in the 1990s, and 144 between 2000 and 2009. It is true that there were major quakes in centuries past; furthermore, with their sensitive equipment scientists now detect more than a million quakes a year. But no special instruments are needed for people to know when there is a great earthquake. Not only have these deadly earthquakes become more frequent, they've been stronger.
With data obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, supplemented by a number of standard reference works, a tabulation was made in 1984 that included earthquakes that measured 7.5 or more on the Richter scale, or that resulted in destruction of $5 million (US dollars) or more in property, or that caused 100 or more deaths. It was calculated that there had been 865 of such earthquakes during the 2,000 years before 1914. The same tabulation showed that in just 69 years following 1914 there were 605 of such quakes. That means that, in comparison with the previous 2,000 years, the average per year has been 20 times as great since 1914.
"In one place after another pestilences" (Luke 21:11)
At the close of the first world war, the Spanish flue swept around the globe, claiming 20 million lives and at a rate unparalleled in the history of disease. Despite advances in medical science, a heavy toll is exacted every year by cancer, heart disease, numerous STDs, multiple sclerosis, malaria, river blindness, and Chagas' disease. Not to mention the recent epidemic of such diseases as Swine Flu.
"Increased lawlessness accompanied by a cooling off of love on the part of the greater number" (Matthew 24:11, 12)
A leading criminologist says: "The one thing that hits you in the eye when you look at crime on the world scale is a pervasive and persistent increase everywhere. Such exceptions as there are stand out in splendid isolation, and may soon be swamped in the rising tide." (The Growth of Crime, New York, 1977, Sir Leon Radzinowicz and Joan King, pp. 4, 5) The increase is real; it is not merely a matter of better reporting. It is true, past generations had criminals too, but never before has crime been as pervasive as it is now. Ask your grandparents. Did their parents worry about locking the door, even if they were going to be back in an hour? Were they taught from a young age the danger of pedophiles, or do their children do the teaching now? Could they trust that a stranger would chase them down on the street to return a forgotten purse?
"Men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth" (Luke 21:25, 26)
"The fact is that today the biggest single emotion which dominates our lives is fear," said U.S. News & World Report. (October 11, 1965, p. 144) "Never before has mankind been as fearful as at present," reported the German magazine Hörzu. - No. 25, June 20, 1980, p. 22.
Many factors contribute to this global atmosphere of fear: violent crime, unemployment, economic instability because so many nations are hopelessly in debt, terrorists, worldwide pollution of the environment, lack of strong and loving family ties, and the overwhelming feeling that mankind is in imminent danger of blowing itself up. Luke 21:25 mentions "signs in sun, moon, and stars, and roaring of the seas" in connection with the anguish felt by the nations. The rising of the sun often causes, not happy anticipation, but fear of what the day may bring; when the moon and stars shine, fear of crime makes people stay behind locked doors. In the 20th century, but not before, planes and missiles have been used to send destruction streaking down from the heavens. Submarines carrying deadly loads of missiles prowl the seas, just one such submarine being equipped to annihilate 160 cities. No wonder the nations are in anguish!
"This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth" (Matthew 24:14)
The message that would be preached is the same message that Jesus himself preached: that God's Kingdom will soon put an end to this entire wicked system of things, and that under its rule mankind will be brought to perfection and the earth restored to a peaceful paradise as it was originally intended to be. That good news is being preached today in over 200 lands and island groups, to the most distant parts of the earth. The only religious organization professing to be Christians that do this is Jehovah's Witnesses. Not just a few individuals but every individual, just as Jesus himself commanded (Matthew 28:19, 20). The Witnesses devote hundreds of millions of hours to this activity each year, making repeated house-to-house visits so that everyone possible is given the opportunity to hear.
To what do all these events of "the last days" point?
Luke 21:31: "When you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near."
When this heavenly kingdom comes, it will destroy the present wicked world and itself take full charge of earth's affairs. Think of it! No more greed or corruption from political leaders, but instead a loving King in Jesus Christ! No more sickness, pain, and death but the resurrection of loved ones the end of disease! No more infertile wastelands but bountiful fields and fragrant gardens! What more could anyone ask for?
Consider the scene. Jesus has just ridden into Jerusalem and presented himself as the chosen King of God's Kingdom. His disciples, however, know that it is not yet time for him to begin reigning as King. They want to know when.
"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:7)
War has tainted life on the earth for thousands of years, both on an international and civil level. But beginning in 1914 the first world war was fought. For the first time, all the major powers were at war. Entire nations - including civilian populations - were mobilized to support the war effort. It is estimated that by the end of the war 93% of the population of the world was involved. As foretold at Revelation 6:4, "Peace was taken away from the earth." Thus the world has continued to be in a state of upheaval ever since 1914. World War II was fought from 1939 to 1945. According to retired Admiral Gene La Rocque, as of 1982 there had been another 270 wars since 1945. Over 100 million people have been slaughtered in warfare during this century, soldiers and civilians alike. These wars have been far different from wars fought in the previous centuries. Now there are bombs, tanks, and thousands of weapons that can be wielded by a single individual and in one strike, extinguish hundreds of lives or more, much different from "the age of the sword." Now armies can slaughter each other without needing to look into the eyes of their victims.
Jesus' words just prior to this are also worthy of note.
"You are going to hear of wars and reports of wars." (Matthew 24:6)
There is a difference between a war occurring somewhere and there being widespread, detailed knowledge of it. Our current technology makes this possible. A civilian in a war zone need only pull out his cell phone and press record to capture footage of a battle, explosion, or things of that nature. Should he be lucky enough to survive such a recording, the video is uploaded to YouTube and then proceeds to make millions of views until it is censored by the government. Wars may have occurred in previous centuries, but there were never so many reporters on the scene as there are now.
"There will be food shortages...in one place after another." (Matthew 24:7)
There have been many famines in human history. To what extent was the 20th century afflicted by them? World war led to widespread starvation in Europe and Asia. Africa has been stricken by drought, resulting in extensive food shortages. Late in 1980 the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated hat 450 million people were hungry to the point of starvation, and up to a billion did not have enough to eat. Of these, some 40 million a year actually die - in some years as many as 50 million - because of the shortage of food.
Is anything different about these food shortages? Revelation 6:6 indicated that a small quantity of such staples as wheat or barley would be selling for a day's wage (a denarius; see Matthew 20:2) but that supplies of such items as olive oil and wine used by people who are well-to-do would not be harmed. So apparently many would suffer shortage while other could still get what they wanted. This situation is no longer local, but global. In 1981 The New York Times reported: "The improvement in living standards and the growing demand for food around the world have put pressure on food prices, making it harder for the poorest countries to import their food needs." In many lands the production of food, even with the aid of modern science has not been able to keep the pace with the increase in total population. Modern food experts see no real solution to the problem. (Even if oil companies stopped putting food products into our car engines, there would still be a shortage.)
"There will be great earthquakes." (Luke 21:11)
Between 1900 and 1969, the occurrence of earthquakes that caused fatalities ranged between 34 and 71 per decade. Then, suddenly in the 1970s, the occurrence of deadly earthquakes jumped to the triple digits, landing at 129. Since then that number has only been increasing with 157 in the 1980s, 145 in the 1990s, and 144 between 2000 and 2009. It is true that there were major quakes in centuries past; furthermore, with their sensitive equipment scientists now detect more than a million quakes a year. But no special instruments are needed for people to know when there is a great earthquake. Not only have these deadly earthquakes become more frequent, they've been stronger.
With data obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colorado, supplemented by a number of standard reference works, a tabulation was made in 1984 that included earthquakes that measured 7.5 or more on the Richter scale, or that resulted in destruction of $5 million (US dollars) or more in property, or that caused 100 or more deaths. It was calculated that there had been 865 of such earthquakes during the 2,000 years before 1914. The same tabulation showed that in just 69 years following 1914 there were 605 of such quakes. That means that, in comparison with the previous 2,000 years, the average per year has been 20 times as great since 1914.
"In one place after another pestilences" (Luke 21:11)
At the close of the first world war, the Spanish flue swept around the globe, claiming 20 million lives and at a rate unparalleled in the history of disease. Despite advances in medical science, a heavy toll is exacted every year by cancer, heart disease, numerous STDs, multiple sclerosis, malaria, river blindness, and Chagas' disease. Not to mention the recent epidemic of such diseases as Swine Flu.
"Increased lawlessness accompanied by a cooling off of love on the part of the greater number" (Matthew 24:11, 12)
A leading criminologist says: "The one thing that hits you in the eye when you look at crime on the world scale is a pervasive and persistent increase everywhere. Such exceptions as there are stand out in splendid isolation, and may soon be swamped in the rising tide." (The Growth of Crime, New York, 1977, Sir Leon Radzinowicz and Joan King, pp. 4, 5) The increase is real; it is not merely a matter of better reporting. It is true, past generations had criminals too, but never before has crime been as pervasive as it is now. Ask your grandparents. Did their parents worry about locking the door, even if they were going to be back in an hour? Were they taught from a young age the danger of pedophiles, or do their children do the teaching now? Could they trust that a stranger would chase them down on the street to return a forgotten purse?
"Men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth" (Luke 21:25, 26)
"The fact is that today the biggest single emotion which dominates our lives is fear," said U.S. News & World Report. (October 11, 1965, p. 144) "Never before has mankind been as fearful as at present," reported the German magazine Hörzu. - No. 25, June 20, 1980, p. 22.
Many factors contribute to this global atmosphere of fear: violent crime, unemployment, economic instability because so many nations are hopelessly in debt, terrorists, worldwide pollution of the environment, lack of strong and loving family ties, and the overwhelming feeling that mankind is in imminent danger of blowing itself up. Luke 21:25 mentions "signs in sun, moon, and stars, and roaring of the seas" in connection with the anguish felt by the nations. The rising of the sun often causes, not happy anticipation, but fear of what the day may bring; when the moon and stars shine, fear of crime makes people stay behind locked doors. In the 20th century, but not before, planes and missiles have been used to send destruction streaking down from the heavens. Submarines carrying deadly loads of missiles prowl the seas, just one such submarine being equipped to annihilate 160 cities. No wonder the nations are in anguish!
"This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth" (Matthew 24:14)
The message that would be preached is the same message that Jesus himself preached: that God's Kingdom will soon put an end to this entire wicked system of things, and that under its rule mankind will be brought to perfection and the earth restored to a peaceful paradise as it was originally intended to be. That good news is being preached today in over 200 lands and island groups, to the most distant parts of the earth. The only religious organization professing to be Christians that do this is Jehovah's Witnesses. Not just a few individuals but every individual, just as Jesus himself commanded (Matthew 28:19, 20). The Witnesses devote hundreds of millions of hours to this activity each year, making repeated house-to-house visits so that everyone possible is given the opportunity to hear.
To what do all these events of "the last days" point?
Luke 21:31: "When you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near."
When this heavenly kingdom comes, it will destroy the present wicked world and itself take full charge of earth's affairs. Think of it! No more greed or corruption from political leaders, but instead a loving King in Jesus Christ! No more sickness, pain, and death but the resurrection of loved ones the end of disease! No more infertile wastelands but bountiful fields and fragrant gardens! What more could anyone ask for?