Signs of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the End of the World: A Biblical Examination of Future Events in the Last Days

© 2009, 2014 Steve Urick. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 08/28/2009

Second edition by AuthorHouse 06/17/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4389-7501-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-5868-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009905172

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Contents

Preface

1: Signs of the Times

2: The Coming Antichrist and the Great Tribulation

3: Mystery Babylon Religion Revealed

4: Revelation Revealed

Appendix I: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Its History and Only Solution

Appendix II: The Christian Defense of Israel in these Last Days

Appendix III: Preterism Answered

Appendix IV: Who is the Real Jesus?

Appendix V: Last Days Apostasy and the Rotten Fruit of Liberalism

Epilogue A: Final Call to all People and Nations

Glossary

Recommended Reading

All Scripture quotes are taken from the King James Bible.

SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING OF

JESUS CHRIST AND THE END OF THE WORLD

Other paperbacks and eBooks by the author include:

Acts 1 Dispensationalism

The Fundamentals of the Christian Faith

Christian Discipleship and the Local Church

Evangelism and Christian Apologetics

Practical Christian Living

Major Cults and False World Religions

False Teachings and Divisive Movements

Calvinism vs. Arminianism

The Church in the Coming Great Tribulation

Nowmillennial Dispensationalism

The Truth About Roman Catholicism

The Truth About Islam

This book is dedicated to the remnant of Jews

who believe, and are yet to believe, the gospel

of Jesus Christ. God bless Israel forever.

"Even so then at this present time also there is a

remnant according to the election of grace…For I

would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of

this mystery…that blindness in part is happened to

Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved."

Romans 11:5, 25-26

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is in

heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him

will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 10:32-33

I’ll be back.

"As he [Jesus] sat upon the mount of Olives,

the disciples came unto him privately, saying,

Tell us, when shall these things be?

And what shall be the sign of thy coming,

and of the end of the world?"

Matthew 24:3

Preface

We are living in exciting but perilous times. The Bible predicts certain events will occur as we near the end of the age that will trigger the return of Jesus Christ to earth and end our present world as we know it. The purpose of this book is to inform the reader about God’s plan for the future, the new world that is coming, and how to be ready for it by receiving Christ as Savior. Also, to warn people about what Satan (who is real and a deadly adversary of mankind) will be doing for a little season, during the future period of time known as the Great Tribulation. Even now, the mystery of iniquity is at work (2 Thess. 2:7). This mystery is tied to a false religion that began in ancient Babylon and threaded its way down through history, in nations and cultures, and is bringing the whole world together for a final satanic deception in these last days. The Bible gives identifying clues so we can be ready (read chapter 3).

It is important to know that no other so-called holy book in the world dares to predict the future. Islam’s Koran, with its garbled and fictitious writings, doesn’t do it. The Book of Mormon, with its plagiarized Bible prophecies, can’t either. Neither do the Hindu Vedas, Buddhist Pitakas, or the writings of Confucius. Only the Bible, God’s infallible Word, tells us the future in accurate detail. That is because only the Bible is God-inspired. It transcends above every book that was ever written, or ever will be written.

Even now, world events are rapidly coming together, just as the ancient Hebrew prophets and Jesus foretold in the Bible. Israel, as a nation since 1948, is at the center of world attention and has become a burdensome stone to the nations, just as the Bible predicted would happen 2,500 years ago (Zech. 12:3). The Middle East is a virtual time-bomb ready to explode into war at any time between Israel and her neighboring Arab nations. Ongoing disputes between the Israelis and so-called Palestinians over sovereign land rights in Israel, and religious tension between Muslims and Jews, have caused continuous fighting and failed peace talks. Many there are desperately searching for a solution or peace plan that works.

The revived Roman Empire (the modern European Union) is also becoming more and more powerful, militarily and economically (just as predicted by the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament). Europe is also becoming more involved in the politics and religions of the Middle East. In April of 2000, Pope John Paul II (the first pope ever to make an official visit to Israel) entered into Jerusalem on a peace mission, seeking to reconcile the three great monotheistic faiths of the world—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In August of that same year, leaders from twenty-one major religious bodies (representing Eastern Orthodox and Protestant denominations) then joined with the Pope for ecumenical prayer for world peace at St. Paul’s cathedral in Rome (watch for future popes to do the same and invite representatives of all major world religions to come to Italy to pray).

The UN, the Vatican, and the World Council of Churches are all calling for global peace and ecumenical unity through political negotiations and interfaith dialogue between all the governments and religions of the world. All this points to the coming man of sin, the Roman ruler called the Antichrist and his cohort, the false prophet, who will arise on the world scene with a satanic plan to create global peace under a New World Order and a unified false world religion.

For the skeptic who might be reading this, and doubts the Bible’s reliability, keep in mind there are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that point to the Jewish Messiah, the Savior of the world. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled scores of them at His first advent to Israel. It makes logical sense then, especially as we see world events and nations coming together as foretold in the Bible, that Jesus will also fulfill the remaining prophecies (and His own prophecies He gave during His ministry) that pertain to His Second Coming at the end of the age.

I do not claim every point I make in this book is infallible. There remains some room for speculation because the Bible does not always give detailed information about individuals, groups, and events. But the Bible does give us enough general and specific information to get a good idea of what to look for that will clearly point to the literal physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to Israel, possibly in the near future. My prayer is that many will be enlightened, encouraged, and prepared for what is coming by reading this book. Also, that they do their own study of Bible prophecy and aspire to be more devoted to God and zealous to share the gospel with people in these last days. But remember, only the Bible is God-inspired and infallible (2 Tim. 3:16). Any and all teachings must be examined in light of the Bible, the final authority, to see if it is true or not (Acts 17:11).

[Note: Some prophecy teachers like to be dogmatic about Jewish feasts and hidden meanings behind years, dates, and harvests, in relation to the Second Coming of Christ and the Rapture of the saints. But they tend to only complicate what is simple and confuse what is clear (and often end up teaching falsely, setting dates, and making false predictions). Thus, I try to avoid novel/tenuous theories and strange/esoteric interpretations (e.g., secret numbered Bible codes) which no one else has ever discovered. Jesus and the apostles never encouraged that, so why should anyone do that today?]

1

Signs of the Times

As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives His disciples came and asked Him what would be the sign of His coming (Gr: parousia; lit. presence) and the end of the world (Matt. 24:3). Jesus answered by telling them things concerning eschatology, that is, the doctrine of last things or the future events that would take place in the world, just before His literal, visible, and glorious second coming to planet Earth. It is interesting to note that the first thing Jesus told them was to "take heed that no man deceive you" (Matt. 24:4).

There are many people today who are claiming and predicting all sorts of things concerning the return of Christ. Thus, it is very important that Christians know and understand the issues surrounding the Second Coming of Christ, so we will not be deceived and led astray by false teachers who teach contrary to our Lord’s instruction. Several key passages in the Old and New Testaments give prophetic details about the last days. Ezek. 37-39, Dan. 2, 7-9, 11, Joel 2-3, Zech. 12-14, Matt. 24, Lk. 21, Mk. 13, 1 Thess. 4-5, 2 Thess. 1-2, and Revelation are the specific books and chapters for the student of Bible prophecy to become familiar with.

It is also important to know that though the Bible gives us clear signs to watch for so we can know the physical return of Christ is near, yet Bible prophecy was not given to us to read like a newspaper with all the details clearly explained every time. Sometimes specific details are revealed and other times general signs are given. Some prophecies are obscure and will only be revealed during the actual time of the Great Tribulation and in the coming kingdom afterwards. Hence, we should not try to figure out an exact scenario or time-table for everything. This helps to avoid destructive tendencies to speculate and divide over unclear events and nonessentials, or to foolishly try to predict the actual day of Christ’s return.

So relax! Don’t become anxious, obsessed, and a menace to yourself and others. Remember, Almighty God is in control of the future at all times, and so, Christians are not to live in fear. Bible prophecy was given to be a blessing to those who read it, not a curse that makes one obnoxious or drives a person to bizarre thinking or paranoid behavior (don’t be afraid—be informed). Even Jesus, the divine Son of God, did not know the day or hour He would return, only the Father knew (Matt. 24:36). So what makes any mere mortal think they have it all figured out? But be sure, Bible prophecy will come to pass in the order God has decreed. The instructed Christian will know what to watch for in general, and certain things in particular, in order to be ready for that Day. In the meantime, believers can rejoice and be happy, knowing that Jesus is coming back!

There is one more thing to be aware of before looking at the key signs of Christ’s return so no one gets confused or led astray by false teachers who deny or twist what Jesus taught. Some say the Tribulation came and went in the first century of the Christian era and Jesus returned spiritually. But that contradicts the full teachings of our Lord and the apostles. The Bible refers to our entire present age as the last days (Heb. 1:2), which has ushered in a spiritual kingdom with tribulation (Rev. 1:9) and many antichrists (1 Jn. 2:18). But there is also coming the eschatological (future) Antichrist, the man of sin, who is the embodiment of Satan in human flesh (2 Thess. 2:3-8; 1 Jn. 2:18; Rev. 13) during the Great Tribulation which Jesus said would come upon the whole world (not just Israel) before He returns (Lk. 21:25, 35).

Some say Emperor Nero was the Antichrist and the prophecies recorded in Matthew 24:1-33 came to pass in A.D. 70, with the destruction of Jerusalem. However, Jesus said immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days the Son of man will appear, in power and great glory, and every eye will SEE HIM COMING in the clouds of heaven, with His mighty angels (Matt. 24:29-31; Lk. 21:27). None of these final events have happened yet, so they are still to come.

We must examine all Scripture pertaining to prophecy in order to discover what God wants us to know as we near the end of the age. Beware of any person or group that claims to have a special in on their understanding Bible prophecy. Learn from good teachers, but always be a Berean (the noble Christians of Paul’s day) and with readiness of mind, search the Scriptures daily to see if what one says is true (Acts 17:11). In short, stick close to the Bible in these last days.

Finally, if you learn anything from the following, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it and the gospel with people before it is too late and calmly warn them about the times we are living in.

[Note: The word, eschatology comes from two Greek words, eschotos—last and ology—study of. It includes all future Bible events, such as life after death, the growth of God’s kingdom, the Tribulation, the visible Second Coming of Christ at the end of the age, the Rapture, the Day of the Lord’s wrath, Judgment Day, the new heavens and new earth, and so on.]

The Last Days and the

Second Coming of Jesus Christ

The Second Coming of Christ is the most dominant teaching of the New Testament eschatology. The SAME Jesus who ascended into heaven will someday return openly, physically, and visibly in power and great glory to rule over the earth as King forever (Dan. 2:44; 7:27; Matt. 24:30; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-16). Though no one can know the exact day or hour of His coming, the Lord Jesus did leave us a list of certain signs to WATCH for so we can be spiritually awake and ready to meet Him when He does come.

Jesus said, "…when THESE THINGS begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh… So likewise ye, when ye SEE these things come to pass, KNOW ye that the kingdom of God is NIGH AT HAND [near, imminent]. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall NOT PASS AWAY, till ALL BE FULFILLED" (Luke 21:28, 31-32).

These signs would come like a fig tree that puts forth its leaves in the summer. When ALL THE LEAVES (signs) APPEAR we can then know His return is near, even at the door (Matt. 24:32-33). No single sign is enough. All the signs must come to pass. This is very important to know because in virtually every century since Jesus, various Christian groups and heretical sects have predicted that the return of Christ and the end of the world would happen in their lifetime, usually due to some crisis that that particular generation was facing (such as the rise of Islam or persecutions by the papacy, the French Revolution, WWI, and so on).

The following gives a general breakdown of the key signs, in basic chronological order (though some events may occur out of sequence), to watch for in the last days that indicate Jesus Christ is about to return.

[Note: Watchfulness does not mean idle waiting, but rather requires faithful stewardship and diligent use of our spiritual talents, gifts, and resources in the service of God’s kingdom. This will be evaluated by the Lord Jesus when He returns to reward those who eagerly wait for Him (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 12:41-48; 19:11-47; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; Rev. 22:12).]

1

The Miraculous Rebirth of National Israel

The Roman army, led by General Titus, destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Over one million Jews died of starvation and the sword in a five month siege of the city. The temple was razed so that not one stone was left upon another, just as Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:2 and Luke 21:6. In time, most (but not all) of the remaining Jews in Israel were either killed by the Romans, or taken into slavery, and dispersed worldwide (Luke 21:24). For almost 1,900 years the land of Israel (or Palestine, as it was renamed by the Romans in A.D. 135, after Israel’s ancient enemies—the Philistines—in order to de-Judaize the country) was left desolate, just as Jesus predicted in Matthew 23:37-38. After the Romans, Palestine came under the rule of the Byzantines, Arab Muslims, the Crusaders, Saladin and Egyptian Mamluks, the Ottoman Turks, and finally the British (for more historical information, Google Jerusalem - Wikipedia).

Many doubted Israel would ever become a nation again, until May 14, 1948. That is when the Jewish Palestinians declared the independence of the State of Israel (Google Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel). By God’s sovereign hand, the Jews in large numbers began returning from around the world to the Promised Land after the atrocities of World War II (spurred on by the need for a safe and permanent Jewish homeland) to reestablish the nation of Israel against all odds. (Read the dry bones prophecy in Ezekiel 37, which predicted the physical regathering of the Jews from exile into the land of Israel by God and their eventual spiritual rebirth in the future). Then, during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured East Jerusalem (the Old City with its holy sites) and asserted sovereignty over the entire city as its capital. This fulfilled, at least partially, Jesus’ prediction that Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24).

Unbelievers and skeptics do not believe any of these happenings are part of God’s plan. But that is ridiculous! God used men and nations and world events, at the right time, to rebirth the nation of Israel. To go against that reality is to go against the obvious. Israel’s physical rebirth must have occurred first before her spiritual rebirth in the future, at the coming of the Messiah (Zech. 12:10; 14:4, 9; Joel 2:28-32). In God’s prophetic plan, everything centers around the tiny nation of Israel (which belongs to the Jews, who are the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), which God made an unconditional covenant with forever.

"Abram [Abraham] dwelled in the land of Canaan [Israel]… For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I [the Lord God] give it, and to they seed [the Jews] forever" (Gen. 13:12, 15 cp. Gen. 12:7; 15:18; 26:1-6, 24; 28:10-15; 29:28-35; 30:1-24; 32:27-28; 37:2; 46:1-27; Exo. 1:1-5).

Without Israel, Bible prophecy cannot be fulfilled. The Bible warned that God would make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all people and a burdensome stone for all nations around her, and all people that come against her shall be cut in pieces (Zech. 12:2-3, 9). Christ Jesus must personally return to Jerusalem (not New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, or anywhere else) to defend the children of Israel from her enemies, conquer, and then consummate history at the end of the age (Joel 3:16; Zech. 12:7-10; 14:1-11; Rev. 19). Thus, it is impossible for the nation of Israel to ever cease or be destroyed. If you mess with Israel (who is here to stay), you mess with God Almighty who will destroy all who conspire against her.

[Note: Matthew’s version of the Olivet Discourse records the signs of the Second Coming of Christ and the spread of the gospel unto all nations to the end of the age/world (Matt. 24:3, 14). Luke’s version records the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70 and the worldwide dispersion of the Jews (Lk. 21:20-24). The Olivet Discourse employs a near-far prophecy which predicts events that will occur in the first century (e.g., the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem) and the last generation that will see Christ return at the end of the age (Matt. 24:27, 29-31, 34; Lk. 21:24-27, 32). Thus, each writer focused upon different future events for the benefit of believers in the first and last centuries.]

2

False Christs and False Prophets Will Appear

"Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;

and shall deceive many" (Matt. 24:5).

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,

and shall show great signs and wonders…" (Matt. 24:24).

Just as there were false messiahs in the first century, there will also be false messiahs in the latter days. There are literally thousands of cults in the world today, made in America and elsewhere. Many were founded by someone claiming to be divine or the Christ in reincarnated form, or they claim to be a prophet/ess of God (Matt. 24:11). Some of the more well-known false christs and false prophets who came after Jesus Christ are Muhammad (founder of Islam), Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism) and Brigham Young (Smith’s successor), Ellen G. White (Seventh-Day Adventism), Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science), Ron Hubbard (Scientology), Herbert W. Armstrong (Worldwide Church of God), Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Rev. Sun Myung Moon (Unification Church, Moonies). Many more false messiahs and false prophets will come as we near the end of the age.

Some claim a great World Teacher, called Maitreya, is in the world now (but hidden) and will reveal himself when the time is right and lead humanity to experience a new spirituality and global oneness, based on justice and sharing. This ongoing spurious claim was first announced back in the 80’s by new age author and lecturer, Benjamin Crème (from Britain), and fits with Paul’s warning about a great delusion that will overtake the world via a false messiah, shortly before the return of Jesus Christ (see 2 Thess. 2:2-12).

The New Age movement, with its many pagan Eastern-mystic gurus and shamans (Maharishi Yogi, Rajneesh, the Dalai Lama etc.), writers and spokespersons (David Spangler, Matthew Fox, Shirley MacLaine, etc.), and new cults (Mind Science, Silva Mind Control, New Thought, Scientology, Theosophy, Est, Urantia, etc.) is also promoting its own esoteric/mystical Jesus via the pagan Hindu concept of Christ consciousness and self-love for millions of their deluded followers who are foolish enough to believe that they are God, or can become a god via reincarnation, transcendental meditation, and self-enlightenment. They say all is an illusion, all is God (pantheism), or I am God, and there is no absolute truth, no sin, and no need for atonement. Courses on miracles are also being offered to teach people how to change reality, do miracles, and be like god through visualization and self-realization.

The Bible, however, says there is only one true God and one divine Son of God, who is the Christ (Messiah), and that is the Lord Jesus (Isa. 43:3, 10, 11, 15; 1 Tim. 1:1, 15; 2:5). He was not merely a good man, or a messenger-prophet, or a super-guru as some claim. Jesus is literally Jehovah God (the incarnate Word) who came down from heaven, born of a virgin, as the only begotten Son of God, to redeem sinners from the penalty of sin (Jn. 1:1-3, 14; 3:13, 16; 8:58; Rom. 3-4; Phil. 2:6-7; Rev. 1:8, 17-18; 22:12).

[Note: Beware of