Jesus left the Temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 'Do you see all these things?' he asked. 'I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.' As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. 'Tell us,' they said, 'when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?' - Matthew 24:1-3
 

Jesus likened this teaching to a woman's birth pangs, growing in frequency and intensity.

He then listed a series of happenings that would be like signposts. He said these first signposts would be the beginning of birth pangs.
 

1. The first signpost Jesus warned about was that of deception. He said many would come claiming 'I am the Christ'. The word Christ means 'the anointed one'. History documents a long line of leaders claiming to be the anointed one, but the 20th century had more than any other century.

See if you can identify them. They include Mussolini, Mao Zedong, Sheikh Nasrallah, Hitler, Ahmadinejad, Stalin,  Saddam Hussein, Hirohito, but not in this order. All of them claimed to be 'anointed' leaders.

The rise of militant Islam has fostered deception upon millions in our day - even to the point that they will offer themselves and their children as human bombs for the false hope of paradise. This deception is so intense that even many Christians equate Allah with the God of the Bible - which is false.

The prophet Jeremiah lamented "Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace." Not much has changed in our times. The League of Nations was formed to end wars. It didn't stop WWII. After that the United Nations was formed to stop wars - it hasn't worked. According to Wars and Genocides of the 20th Century, 160 million people died in 20th century wars and conflicts. And the 21st Century is off to a record breaking start: Desert Storm against Iraq, Somalia war of genocide, Lebanon war against Hizbullah, to name a few.

3. The third signpost warned about was natural disasters, 'famines, earthquakes, and pestilences' in many places. This warning is linked with national and ethnic unrest.

There will be such upheaval and instability in the world that famines will strike many. In the book of Revelation, 1/3 of the world's population is destroyed by famine during the end time, and we are close to that now.

We currently have so much famine in the world, that it is hard for the news to keep up with it, or with the viewers of the news to emotionally continue watching it. Ethiopia, Africa, Sudan, India, North Korea are just a few in the news. Famine is often a result of ethnic fighting and revolution. For further information on famines try Nexus of Early Warning Systems.

Earthquakes are also increasing. A few years ago, many would say, "Their aren't more earthquakes, just better reporting today!" This may be true, however, there has been a 500% increase in serious quakes reported in the past decade. Scientist are now predicting more frequent and stronger quakes are on the way in many places!

We are not as aware of this in the United States because Christians are not being killed here - yet. But persecution is on the rise even here. Pastors are not free to preach against abortion and in Canada, they cannot preach what the Bible says about homosexuality without being fined. A Jewish Rabbi recently issued a warning for Christians to wake up to the coming persecution growing in this country. The U.S. Congress is considering a Hate Crimes Bill that would make it illegal for Christians to speak against radical Islam or homosexuality. Jesus warned even family members would turn against believers.

This trend is increasing and Jesus warns us to prepare for it.

5. The fifth signpost is called by the Apostle Paul 'the rebellion' or 'falling away'. Jesus foretold, 'because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.'

Christians are supposed to stand for truth, but the time is coming 'when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit there own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.' - 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.

They will perish because 'they refused to love the truth and so be saved.' - 2 Thes 2:10.

Christians will even be betrayed by family members. But Jesus gives a word of encouragement, 'But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." - Luke 21:18, 19.

Then we will see the next phase of this signpost: 'When you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand - then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains ...' - Matthew 24:15, 16.

This requires the Temple to be rebuilt and the Jewish Priesthood to be re-established. Just recently, the Sanhedrin, which appoints the High Priest, was reconstituted. Rabbinical colleges are already training the priesthood, and Temple ceremonial utensils and garments are being made in Israel. Only the Temple remains to be built and plans are now being made to do just that.

This signpost also requires that the antichrist and the false prophet be present as he must make the false 7-year treaty with Israel that allows the Temple to be rebuilt and begin functioning. He breaks this treaty after 3^1/2 years and sets up the abomination of desolation.

At the close of this signpost, the birth pangs will be intense and the birth about ready to happen.

Paul writes, 'Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.' - 2 Thes 2:3, 4.

Some teach that the rapture can happen at any time, but Scripture requires at least two events to happen first: 1) preach the gospel of the kingdom to the whole world, and 2) the rebellion and the antichrist appearing.

7. The seventh and final signpost is the return of Jesus to gather His own and to judge the wicked. 'At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.' - Matthew 24:30, 31.

This is the description of the second coming of Jesus. In the beginning of Acts as the disciples watched Jesus ascending into the sky, into the clouds, the angels said, 'Men of Galilee why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.' 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Titus 2:13 and others all describe similar events at the second coming.

The nations who are against Him will mourn and Armageddon will bring them to their knees. The antichrist and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire. The devil will be bound for a thousand years. At the judgment seat of Christ, the sheep and the goats will be separated and the 1000 year reign of Christ will begin on earth.

I believe this is giving Israel as the fig tree, by which we can tell the times. In 1948 the nation of Israel was reformed and in 1967 it took control once again of the city of Jerusalem, after 2000 years. the many regional wars the Arabs have started with her are all foretold in Isaiah 11:12-16

This why students of prophesy watch Israel so closely.

We are to watch and keep doing the things Jesus taught us to do. Like the wise virgins, we are to have a full supply of oil, which is the Holy Spirit. During this time of great tribulation, many will be coming to the Lord, but how shall they hear if no one preaches?