We are living in the last days. While Jesus can come at any time and jumpstart a chain of events, we are living during a time Jesus describes as the fig tree putting forth its leaves.
“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” (Mark 13:28-29)
So be prepared for His coming in order to have the strength to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).
Nation of Israel
There are many signs that show we are living in the end times. One of these signs is how God is preparing the nation of Israel.
Birth of a Nation
After the terrible days of the Holocaust, Israel was born as a nation. Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948. The prophet Isaiah had prophesied about this long ago, saying: “Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8).
So Israel (Zion) was in great labor pains during the Holocaust. But afterwards Israel was born in one day.
Israel is unique because there is no other nation on earth that was dispersed multiple times and came back as a strong and great nation. Many Jewish people have come back to their own land. They speak a revived ancient language called Hebrew. And Israel has modernized to be a first-world country with one of the most advanced technologies in the world.
Third Temple
The third temple is the temple that will be on earth during the last days. (The first temple was the temple built by Solomon, which was destroyed by Babylonians. The second temple was built after Israel came back from Babylonian captivity. But it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.)
There are many Jewish people who are now ready to build the third temple.
The prophet Daniel prophesied about the Antichrist, describing him as the abomination of desolation who will come into the temple during the end time to proclaim himself as god.
“From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.” (Daniel 12:11)
According to Daniel, the regular temple sacrifice will be stopped and the Antichrist will be set up as ruler on earth.
Jesus said something similar: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15-16)
So a new temple (holy place) will be built in these last days, and Israel is ready to build it.
In fact, there is an organization in Jerusalem that is dedicated for this very purpose. It is called the Temple Institute. This organization has recreated holy vessels used for temple service, including a solid gold menorah (lampstand), showbread tables, incense burners, linen priestly garments, and many other temple objects made according to biblical specifications.
They have even acquired red heifer candidates (red-haired cows) prescribed in Numbers 19. A qualified red heifer will be sacrificed to purify the future temple. A qualified red heifer must be without blemish, have fully red hairs (without one hair of any other color), and never have worked or carried a yoke. Such an animal is extremely rare and its qualification is ongoing.
The Temple Institute has also gathered a Levitical choir. These are Jewish people from the tribe of Levi by birth. The Levitical choir is being trained to sing praises to God as part of temple service.
So Israel is living in the last days and is being prepared according to Bible prophecy.
Technological Advances
It is written: “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” (Daniel 12:4)
Daniel was told that the words of this prophecy written in the book of Daniel will be concealed until the end of time. This means that the meaning of these words will not be revealed until the last days. However, we are beginning to understand what these words mean. The statement in Daniel 12:4 is related to advanced technology.
Advanced Travel
The prophet Daniel prophesied that many will go back and forth in the last days. What does this mean?
This means fast and efficient global travel. Previously, the quickest way to travel was through horses, chariots and boats. Now people can travel by cars, trains, and planes. Many people go back and forth quickly everyday. This part of Daniel’s prophecy is already fulfilled.
Knowledge Increases
Daniel also prophesied that knowledge will increase in the last days.
Knowledge has increased through the internet. Information can be found by a few clicks on a computer. Furthermore, we have artificial intelligence to help us with practically any task in daily life.
Knowledge has increased and is being built upon to send rockets to Mars, perform robotic surgeries, and take over many tasks that humans perform.
Importantly, knowledge has increased so that the gospel is taken world-wide, even to remote and dangerous places where human missionaries are forbidden. Yet anyone in those places can open a digital Bible or read the gospel online.
Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
This is being fulfilled as the gospel is being preached in the entire world through missionaries in person and online.
Infrastructure for Buy and Sell Limitations
In recent years, a new technology has emerged to become an infrastructure for the end time. This technology involves blockchains and cryptocurrencies.
A blockchain is a network of computers that records and verifies monetary transactions on a global scale. A cryptocurrency (or digital currency) is the money that flows on a blockchain.
For example, a person can buy and sell gold using a digital currency on a blockchain. Increasingly, more real-world assets will be tokenized (or represented) on blockchains. This means people can buy houses, cars, stocks, and anything of value on blockchains. Every transaction will be global and traceable. There will be fewer fake goods, because only real goods are represented onchain.
As more real-world assets move to blockchain technology, cash and other physical monies will phase out of use.
Blockchain technology (like many other technologies) is not bad in itself. It is a neutral technology like the internet. However, when the wrong person comes into power, blockchain technology can be used to block money transfers.
The Bible tells us that the Antichrist will set up a monetary system in the end time where only those who receive his mark will be able to buy and sell.
“And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:16-17)
Blockchains form the technological infrastructure that enable a fully digital marketplace. When the Antichrist comes, the mark might be digitally scanned (similar to the way barcodes or QR codes are scanned today) to verify a person’s ability to buy and sell. Those who don’t have the mark will have nothing to eat. But those who take the mark will die forever (Revelation 14:9-11).
In summary, these enormous technological leaps we have had in recent decades are preparing us for the fulfillment of end time prophecies in the Bible.
The Four Horsemen
The Bible describes Jesus opening a sealed book of prophecies during the last days (Revelation 5-6). As Jesus breaks open the first four seals of this book, four horsemen arrive. These four horsemen represent periods of time, some of which we have already had and some of which we will have in the near future.
The Conqueror on a White Horse
The first horseman is a conqueror on a white horse. He was given the power to conquer nations.
The apostle John writes: “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:1-2)
From around the 1400s to the 1800s, European nations went out conquering and to conquer. It began with Portuguese explorers, Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama and others. It began with the promise of peace, beneficial trade treaties, and missionary work. But it expanded into full-scale conquering, exploitation and war.
During this period of several hundred years, North America, South America, India, Africa, parts of Asia, Australia, and many other places were taken over, colonized, and/or exploited.
At the peak of colonialization, the entire earth was divided up by European nations and the United States.
The Warrior on a Red Horse
The next horseman is a warrior on a red horse. He was given power to turn nations against one another.
The apostle John writes: “When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come.’ And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.” (Revelation 6:3-4)
In the 1900s, we had global wars such as World War I and World War II. There was a major threat of nuclear war between the US and Russia during the Cold War era. In recent years, wars in the Middle East and other places continue.
Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6). “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom…” (Luke 21:10).
So we have had global wars and rumors of wars. Two horsemen have come. We are getting ready to face the third horseman, who is about to come.
The Merchant on a Black Horse
The next horseman who is about to come is a merchant on a black horse. He has a pair of scales to carefully weigh out a small amount of food for a high price.
The apostle John writes: “When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.'” (Revelation 6:5-6)
According to this prophecy, high inflation and famine will take place on a global scale. A denarius is a day’s wages. This means a quart of wheat will sell for a day’s wages and three quarts of barley will sell for a day’s wages. Yet this amount of money is not enough to pay for any oil or wine.
With over 8 billion people on earth and growing, we are ripe for this prophecy of global famines and hyperinflation to occur.
Death on an Ashen Horse
The fourth horseman to come is called Death who sits on an ashen horse.
The apostle John writes: “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come.’ I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7-8)
According to this prophecy, billions of people (a fourth of the earth’s population) will die due to wars, famine, disease, and wild beasts.
We are living in the last days and about to face the third and fourth horsemen. As Jesus opens the seals of God’s prophecy for the end time, let us be prepared for His coming.
How to be prepared
All these signs (including what Israel is doing, technological advancements, and the horsemen that have come and will come) show definitively we are living in the last days.
We need to be prepared. Jesus told us exactly how to be prepared for His coming in these last days.
Jesus said: “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).
So we should be obeying God (not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness), looking forward to His coming (so that it is not a trap for us), and focused on the kingdom of God (keeping alert at all times and not weighed down with the worries of life).
We also need to pray that we may have the strength to escape the Tribulation (which is still yet to come) and to stand before Jesus without shame.
See a full timeline of the end time.
Learn more about how to prepare for the end time.
Read Revelation 6 in the Bible.