I have been very interested in the current happenings in the middle east, and in other parts of the world as well, and was wondering what you think about it. Could we really be this close to end times prophecy setting in motion?
I believe the world is moving toward the fulfillment of end times prophecies at a much quicker pace than most people realize. This is not just evident in geo-political matters. The world economy, the increasing shortages in its food supply, the abandonment of Judeo-Christian principles in our societies, the frequency and intensity of adverse weather conditions, and the outbreak of disease are also reliable indicators.
In Matt. 24: 8 Jesus called these things “birth pangs”. I believe He used this comparison to explain that they would begin slowly and then increase in both frequency and intensity as the end times judgments come closer. That has certainly been the case over the last couple of years.
It doesn’t matter what you think about the order in which end times prophecies will be fulfilled. Current events seem to be issuing a clear signal that they’re coming soon. I have noticed that prophecy scholars are beginning to call this a convergence of signs. By that they mean it’s not a matter of this sign or that one popping up. It’s that all the signs Jesus told us to look for are here in some stage of maturity.
In 1 Thes. 5:1-5 Paul said the events of the end of the age would take most people by surprise, but that believers should not be surprised by their approach. He called us “sons of the light” which means we have more knowledge available to us than the world in general has. He was talking about Bible prophecy.
But Paul didn’t say we wouldn’t be surprised, he only said we shouldn’t be surprised. It’s up to us to keep our eyes open and use the knowledge we’ve been given to see what’s coming.