With the current situation in the Middle East and a noticiably high level of natural disasters occuring around the world, these events have many people wondering if the end times signs are falling into place.

In Judeo-Christian religions, the End times are often depicted as a time of tribulation that precedes the appearance or return of the Messiah, Yeshua, who will usher in the Kingdom of God and bring an end to suffering and evil. Some Messianics in the first century AD believed that Jesus might return during their lifetime, because Jesus had said to his followers to be alert or be ready at all times.

It is increasingly obvious that the time of our Lord’s coming is drawing near. Prophecy is being fulfilled daily, and at a faster pace than ever before. It should motivate us to save as many souls as we can in the time that we have left.

SIX SIGNS GIVEN BY YESHUA TO INDICATE HIS COMING & THE END TIMES

In Matthew 24:3 Yeshua was asked, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus told his apostles to look for the following signs prior to his second coming and the end of the age.

1.) FALSE PROPHETS AND CHRISTS

- "For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will mislead many." Matthew 24:5
- "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many." Matthew 24:11

In the last several years many have claimed to be the Messiah. Jim Jones and David Koresh are examples of these false christs as well as countless others who are not as newsworthy. These false prophets are a prelude to the ultimate false christ, the antichrist.

2.) WARS

– "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end." Matthew 24:6

Rumors of wars in all areas of the world now occur frequently thanks to instant media coverage and the availability of a multitude of 24-hour news sources.

- "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes." Matthew 24:7

More people have been killed in warfare in this century than at any other time in history. As the death toll rises in the Middle East, more and more countries work feverishly to develop devastating weapons of mass destruction. Add to that the expanding threat of terrorism and unpredictable dictators, and the potential for the outbreak of war exists in nations, kingdoms and places across the globe.

3.) FAMINES

– "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes." Matthew 24:7

As white, Christian farmers are driven out of Zimbabwe in increasing numbers, and foreigners move in to replace life-sustaining crops with poppies that now supply 25% of the worlds drugs, famine spreads across the African continent. The undernourished are not limited to Africa, however. A large portion of the worlds 5 billion people suffers from a shortage of food.

4.) EARTHQUAKES

 - "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes." Matthew 24:7

The number and intensity of earthquakes this century is at a level higher than any other time in history. A staggering number of seismic events occur around the world daily. The earthquake seismic monitor IRIS shows all major earthquakes for the last year. Indicated by yellow and red circles, the seismic events of the last 15 days provides strong evidence of the fulfillment of Matthew 24:7 in our day. By contrast, in the years from 1890 to 1900 there was only one major earthquake in the world.

5.) TRIBULATIONS

– "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name."  Matthew 24:8

Messianics &Christians are under attack throughout the world today. In the United States Messianics & Christians still enjoy freedom to worship God without suffering much more than ridicule, hatred, or discrimination at work and school. However in many other countries such as China, Sudan, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Russia, and many Muslim nations, Messianics & Christians suffer much greater persecution and often times death for their faith. During the tribulation this suffering will be worldwide and will continue even to the point of martyrdom. These first 5 signs will increase in intensity and severity as the tribulation approaches.

6.) THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

- "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come." Matthew 24:14

This prophecy has already been fulfilled through television, radio, missionaries, the translation of the Bible into many languages, and the internet. People all over the world now hear the message of Christ from missionaries who have the means to travel the globe, and via technology that allows us to communicate with people on the other side of the world right from our own homes, churches and offices.