The Bible is filled with prophecies about the Second Coming, and Jesus commanded us to watch for Him (Mark 13:35-37). Unfortunately, much of the world (including a large number of Christians) are not watching for Jesus. They’re asleep when it comes to the Second Coming, even though Jesus warned against it. Why do I say the world is asleep? Because right now, a flood of signs surround us. Never before have so many signs of the Second Coming been present. Here are just a few from 2020:
COVID-19- Since emerging from Wuhan, China in late 2019, COVID-19 (a.k.a. “the coronavirus”) has wrecked havoc on the world stage. Far from being in the rearview mirror, the coronavirus pandemic is still an ongoing global emergency. A form of pestilence, it’s one of the signs Jesus told His followers to look for (Luke 21:11). It sets the stage for the near-term fulfillment of many end time bible prophecies.
Global Riots – In late May, the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked nationwide protests in the United States. In London, authorities boarded up a statue of Winston Churchill to protect it from those threatening to tear it down. Throughout the world, we see images of arson, looting, and mayhem as a spirit of lawlessness prevails. The Bible says this is what people will be like in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
A Global Depression – Despite all the talk of a “V-shaped” recovery for the economy, no such thing is happening. The global travel industry is a fraction of what it was in early January, and it will likely be years before we see travel return to the old “normal.” Restaurants, hotels, and retail outlets have a fraction of the foot traffic they once had. Recently, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development estimated global GDP could plummet as much as 7.6% this year – twice what it previously announced in March. This creates fertile ground for the rise of a dictator. The Great Depression paved the way for Adolph Hitler. The Bible says a similar economic catastrophe will pave the way for the Antichrist (Revelation 6:5-6).
Swarms of Locusts – This year also saw the emergence of one of the worst locust plagues in decades. Swarms of billions of locusts, ranging anywhere from a third of a mile to a 100 square miles or more, have attacked crops on two continents. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization projects these swarms will continue to thrive and continue to spread. As these locust swarms destroy crops, millions face the prospect of famine in parts of the world where food insecurity is already common. Famine is one of the signs Jesus said to look for (Matthew 24:7).
Rumors of War -If Israel moves forward with plans to annex all or part of the West Bank, it will almost certainly face widespread condemnation in the international community and violent resistance from its longtime enemies. Only time will tell, but rumors of war are widespread. Jesus said rumors of war will be another sign of His coming (Matthew 24:6).
The Converging Signs- But these are just the latest signs. Many of the signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for appeared long before 2020. Generations of Christians lived and died without witnessing a single sign of the Second Coming. Yet our generation is witness to all of them. Those signs include: The Jewish people back in the land of Israel (Jeremiah 23:7-8)… The Jewish people once again in possession of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)… The Gospel being preached to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14)… A time when travel and knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4)… A time when Israel has “an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10)… The rise of the Gog of Magog Alliance (Ezekiel 38-39)… The rise of a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation 17)… The rise of global government (Revelation 13:7)… And the rise of a single global currency system (Revelation 13:16-17)… We see all of these signs today either fulfilled or in the process of being fulfilled and Jesus commanded us to watch for them. He warned us not to be found sleeping when the Master arrives without warning (Mark 13:36).
Jesus said the generation witnessing these signs will not pass away before He returns (Matthew 24:34). Keep in mind – for 1,878 years of Christianity (A.D. 70 – A.D. 1948), none of these signs were present. Today, all of them are. That means Jesus is right at the door (Matthew 24:33).
The coronavirus is God’s wake-up call to those who have been sleeping. It sets the stage for the rapture of the church, the arrival of the Antichrist, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Make sure you’re not asleep! This is not the time for timidity or fear, but for love, wisdom, work, and prayer.