Signs the Bible Gives Before Jesus Returns

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” — C.S. Lewis.

I write as a guide and friend. I will review major scriptural markers that point to the coming of the Son. My aim is clear: help you read the times we live in today with faith and hope rooted in God’s word.

I will use plain language and Scripture as the primary source. Matthew warns of great tribulation and a shortened period for the elect. Luke urges us to watch and pray so we can stand before the Son of Man. Revelation declares that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord.

We will look at things on earth and in the heavens, at society, nature, wars, Israel, and global systems. I will not set dates. Instead, I offer clear passages and practical counsel so we may build faith, encourage one another, and prepare with wisdom for the moment to come.

Key Takeaways

• I will survey major biblical markers that point to the Son’s coming.
• These signs help us interpret world events with hope grounded in Scripture.
• The Bible describes real events on earth and in the heavens near the end time.
• Jesus calls us to watch and pray so we do not miss the appointed moment.
• This guide uses clear verses and practical steps without predicting dates.

Why these Signs matter for the future

My aim is to explain why these biblical indicators matter now. I focus on how they shape our use of time and our hope for the future.

They build faith by showing people how events fit God’s plan. Scripture gives context that steadies belief and guides action.

Luke 21:34-36 urges us to watch and pray. That call keeps us alert today and shields us from fear about the day of the Lord.

I teach that prophecy prompts service. As the week of Daniel unfolds in study, we gain confidence that history moves under God’s hand.

Practical steps I encourage:

• Watch and pray so cares do not weigh you down.
• Place each event in Scripture rather than in rumor.
• Serve others with love as we anticipate what comes.

The heavens and the earth reflect God’s timetable, and clear teaching helps the church place each sign in its right place.

Rapture and Second Coming are distinct in time

We must separate the instant rescue of God’s people from His later, public arrival. I will state the difference plainly and stick to Scripture.

The rapture is the moment the Lord takes His followers to Himself. It can occur at any moment and needs no public sign. This view offers comfort: God does not appoint His people to wrath.

The Second Coming is the Lord’s return to earth in power and glory. It follows a prophetic week that begins when a covenant is confirmed (Daniel 9:27). The week reaches a midpoint event that marks a severe rise in tribulation.

“From the abomination set up to the end are 1,290 days.”

Once the week starts, timing for the final events can be counted. The rapture, however, remains at an unknown time. Live ready now, watchful and full of faith. Delay can dull the heart, so we urge one another to stay awake.

• I define the rapture as God taking His followers to Himself before Revelation’s judgments.
• I explain the week begins with a confirmed covenant and reaches a midpoint crisis.
• I affirm the Second Coming follows the tribulation when Christ sets His feet on the Mount of Olives.

Signs before Christ’s return

I will lay out the clear scriptural anchors that guide our view of the last days.

Matthew 24 serves as the master list. It names deception, wars, famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 21 adds a direct call: watch and pray so that the day does not catch us by surprise. That counsel guards faith and steadies action.

The book revelation gives the sequence of seals, trumpets, and bowls that unfold in time. Revelation 6 shows cosmic disturbances and a great earthquake every person on earth will notice.

Revelation 13 speaks of an image linked to the beast and wonders done in the sight of many to deceive people. Revelation 16:18 records the greatest earthquake since people were on the earth.

These passages fit together to anchor our view of the days ahead. Test each claim by Scripture and keep a Bible open when you study. Mark the key verses in your book for quick use. Clear anchors protect us from confusion when many voices talk at the same time.

Rapid growth in knowledge and global movement

The prophet Daniel points to a future when knowledge and movement would accelerate together. Daniel 12:4 links many running to and fro with an increase of understanding in the last days.

Consider the facts. Within about a year after key inventions the world changed. Karl Benz built the modern automobile in 1885 and the Wright brothers flew in 1903. Those advances sped travel across the earth and reshaped how people move.

Buckminster Fuller’s “Knowledge Doubling Curve” and IBM’s work note how data and learning have grown faster over time. Today many of us access vast information in seconds. This fits Daniel’s description without setting a date.

I urge caution: this sign shows a condition, not a timetable. Use these tools to return to Scripture and study truth. Skill and speed are gifts to steward with wisdom in these times.

False Christs and false prophets deceive people

I will note how false teachers draw crowds with bold claims and clever signs. Jesus warned plainly that many would come in His name and mislead people, and that warning still matters for faith today.

Matthew 24:5 says many will appear claiming authority and will deceive many. Modern examples, such as Sergey Torop and Alvaro Theiss, show the pattern Jesus described. These cases remind us that error can dress itself in charisma.

Paul warned that some will depart from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1). 2 Thessalonians 2:9 speaks of signs and lying wonders used to deceive a trusting world. A single man with spectacle may draw attention, yet Scripture must stay central.

Deception grows when the church neglects Scripture. I urge leaders to equip people with sound teaching. Humility and prayer guard the heart when persuasive voices rise.

Practical steps: test every message by the Bible, correct one another in love, and teach members to value truth over spectacle. This pattern is active now and will likely intensify as the end draws near.

The fig tree sign and the nation of Israel

Jesus used a simple image to teach about timing and readiness. In Matthew 24:32–34 He says when the fig tree puts out leaves, you know summer is near. I explain this as a call to watch Scripture, not to set dates.

Many readers link the fig tree to Israel’s national life. The modern state was reestablished in the year 1948, and that event has shaped how the world watches prophecy unfold. Ezekiel’s words about regathering (Ezekiel 20:33–34) also point to God’s work in bringing people home in His time.

This fig tree lesson does not stand alone. It pairs with other markers Jesus gave that point to events in Jerusalem and to the final days. Study these passages and build knowledge from Scripture so faith stays rooted in truth.

I urge caution with timelines. Note the year and the pattern, but avoid firm predictions. The fig tree calls us back to readiness and prayer as leaves appear and history moves toward God’s appointed time.

Earthquakes, famines, and disasters in many places

I offer a careful look at how earthquakes, famines, and large disasters fit the Bible’s warnings. Matthew 24:7–8 names famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places as the beginning of sorrows, not the end itself.

Recorded counts of earthquakes have risen, partly because instruments and reporting improved. Still, the human cost remains real. The 2011 Japan quake and tsunami caused more than 20,000 deaths and roughly $360 billion in damage.

NOAA data shows U.S. billion‑dollar weather and climate disasters have totaled about $1.7 trillion since 1980. In one year, 2018, losses exceeded $91 billion. Such numbers show strain on systems that serve a growing population.

Rising seismic activity and global losses

Better detection raises recorded events, yet deaths and economic loss remain severe. These facts and book‑level data help us understand scale without sensationalism.

These events mark the beginning of sorrows

Jesus framed these troubles as signs that precede harder days. They call the church to act with compassion, relief, and clear teaching from God’s word.

The great earthquake in Revelation 16

“The great earthquake… such as was not since men were upon the earth.”

This passage warns of an event beyond recorded history. We prepare wisely, care for those who suffer, and turn hearts to repentance and hope in God.

• Practical response: Give aid, teach Scripture, and pray for those affected.
• Care: Support recovery efforts and help reduce risk where possible.

Apostasy and a lukewarm church

Many congregations today face a quiet drift from passion into routine. I recall the Lord’s warning to Laodicea in Revelation 3:14–22 about being lukewarm and self‑satisfied.

Apostasy means turning away from sound teaching and from simple trust in God’s word. Paul warns of this in 1 Timothy 4:1 as a real danger in the last days. I will keep counsel pastoral and clear.

Observe: some prefer messages that avoid repentance and soft‑peddle the call to change. That tendency weakens faith and leaves a people ill prepared for judgment.

I urge leaders and lay people alike to open the door to the Lord’s voice. Buy the gold refined by fire, test your walk, and return to first love. Each man and woman reading should examine their life by Scripture and prayer.

I encourage daily time in Scripture and prayer to keep faith warm and active. Serve together, build one another up, and hold to the word. Hope remains: Jesus stands ready to renew any church that hears and obeys.

Wars, rumors of wars, and the risk of nuclear conflict

Tensions between nations have long tested the church’s call to pray and act for peace. Jesus warned that conflicts would recur through time, and that warning still guides how we watch world events.

Escalation that threatens nations and populations

Experts warn of a rising risk. Arms Control Association notes backsliding since 2016, and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists speaks of a “new abnormal” in global security today. This data shows states rebuild arsenals and modernize weapons.

“And in that hour the number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard their number.”

• Nations develop weapons that can cause massive death and long-term harm to the earth.
• Technology used in conflict raises risk for the wider population and critical systems.
• Watch hotspots such as the Middle East and tensions among major powers to gauge escalation.

I urge prayer for leaders to choose restraint and for openings toward peace. We trust God while acting wisely in our time. The church should remain a clear witness of Christ’s peace amid violence and fear.

The rise of a united power in Europe

I read Revelation with care and note a clear prediction about a brief rise of concentrated authority in Europe. Revelation 17:12–13 speaks of ten kings who give their power to one ruler for an hour. This image points to a bloc of nations yielding authority to a single man or system for a limited time.

Revelation 13:3–4 shows the world marveling at this figure and asking who can make war against him. That verse links military strength and global admiration with the new order.

Shifting times, crises, and population movements often speed political integration. Economic strain and security needs can prompt nations to accept a stronger central power.

I urge discernment in watching Europe’s political and military developments. Study how global economics and religion may shape this pattern. Remain ready, not fearful, and hold fast to God’s word.

The man of lawlessness and the false prophet

Scripture describes two linked figures who will test the faith of the world. I will define roles by text and avoid naming any modern person. This helps us watch with wisdom, not rumor.

Antichrist seeks worship and shows power

I define the man of lawlessness as a real person who opposes God and seats himself in the temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). He will claim authority and demand worship. He uses political power to exalt himself over all that is called God.

False prophet performs signs and deceives the world

The false prophet described in the book revelation looks like a lamb but speaks with a dragon’s force. He performs signs and even calls fire down from heaven in the sight of many (Revelation 13:11–14).

The false prophet urges people to make an image of the beast. That image becomes a tool of deception and control. These things will test the whole world.

Measure every claim by Scripture. Refuse any worship of a man. The pairing of political power and religious influence will mark this phase, yet Christ will destroy the lawless one at His appearing.

The abomination of desolation and a rebuilt temple

A single act in Jerusalem will mark a set span of days that Scripture allows us to count. This event, called the abomination of desolation, happens in a specific place and affects the daily sacrifice.

I read Daniel 9:27 as a clear note: a covenant for one week is broken at mid‑week when the sacrifice stops. That cessation begins a set countdown the text records.

Daniel 12:11 gives a numerical marker of days—1,290 from the removal of daily worship to an end point. Revelation 11:1–2 complements this by speaking of a measured temple and the holy city being trampled for forty‑two months.

These passages tie a rebuilt temple, halted sacrifice, and a fixed span of time together. They locate the event in Jerusalem and give readers a way to track developments without guessing dates.

I urge care: these verses give structure, not a schedule to force. Study them side by side in Scripture. This sign also links closely with the rise of the man of sin, so read the passages with prayerful attention to truth and hope.

The mark of the beast and global control

Revelation 13 links a mark to buying and selling, and it ties commerce to open allegiance. The text shows a system that controls access to basic needs for many people.

Those who accept the mark align with the beast and face God’s final judgment. Refusal will bring real penalties: loss of income, social pressure, and even death in extreme cases.

I avoid tech speculation and stick to outcomes the Bible spells out. This control will reach across the world and touch everyday life on the earth.

Practical counsel: settle your convictions now. Know Scripture on worship so you will not bow to any rival claim. Build local support so families can endure pressures together.

Short-term gain is never worth eternal loss under God’s judgment. Clarity now will guard our steps when this sign appears.

Great signs in the heavens and a darkened sky

The Bible sets out a vivid order of heavenly events that point to the final day. I will present the sequence simply and with Scripture as our guide.

Sun darkened, moon not giving light, stars fall

Matthew 24:29–30 describes the sun growing dark, the moon failing to shine, and stars falling from the heavens. That passage places these wonders right after the tribulation and before the visible coming of the Son.

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.”

Revelation 6:12–17 echoes this order. The sixth seal brings a great earthquake, the sky recedes, and people hide at the sight of the Lord Jesus and the coming day of wrath.

The sign of the Son of Man appears

First the cosmic disturbances. Then the clear sign of the Son appears for all nations to see. This sequence marks the end phase and shows God’s power to the world.

• I note that routine eclipses are not the same as the prophetic sequence described by Jesus and the prophets.
• People react with fear and seek to hide at these sights; Scripture records this as a response to divine judgment.
• When these events occur, believers should lift their heads, for redemption draws near.

Trust Scripture: the prophets and the Lord align on this order. God controls the heavens, and His timing will not be missed.

The gospel of the Kingdom reaches all nations

I believe the gospel moves by ordinary people who live the way of Jesus and tell the truth plainly.

“Then shall the gospel of the kingdom be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

The book of Acts shows how bold witness carried the message into new places despite opposition. That pattern matters now. The message names Jesus as King and points to the Father’s coming rule.

Faith needs both word and example. The world must hear the gospel and see the way lived in homes, workplaces, and churches. This spread brings knowledge of God’s plan and builds faith across cultures.

• Support Bible teaching, translation, and mission with prayer and service.
• Share hope in simple terms with neighbors and co-workers.
• Trust that God uses ordinary people when hearts stay humble and obedient.

Isaiah 9:6–7 promises a just government under the coming King. As the witness spreads to every nation, we know the end draws nearer. Keep sharing, praying, and living the gospel each day.

Elijah comes before the great day of the Lord

Malachi 4:5 promises, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord.” This verse names a prophetic messenger who prepares people for judgment and restoration.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord.”

John the Baptist denied he was Elijah in person (John 1:19–23). Yet Luke 1:17 says he came in the spirit and power of Elijah. That distinction matters: identity is not the point so much as the work God accomplishes.

The work of this prophet calls people to repentance and turns hearts back to God. Many expect such ministry to appear near key prophetic times and to prepare the way for the lord jesus.

I caution against idle speculation about who will play this role. Focus on the message God sends and on hearing His voice now. God often warns first to save and to restore.

• What to note: a prophet comes to call people home.
• What to practice: heed Scripture, welcome correction, and be ready in the appointed time.

I affirm that every promise God made about that day will come to pass. Let us heed God’s word today so we stand ready when the things He has spoken unfold.

How followers can watch, pray, and hold firm today

Live expectantly by building daily rhythms that keep faith warm and action ready.

Pray and read Scripture each day to steady the heart. Watch with a calm Bible in hand, as Luke 21:34–36 urges. Meet with one another often and encourage the weak so no one hardens under pressure.

Memorize core passages, share hope with your neighbors, and practice gratitude to the Father. Prepare for trials by holding truth and helping others in practical ways.

Remember the promise that the King will reign (Revelation 11:15). Keep the rapture and the future hope of the lord jesus before your eyes, serve the world in mercy, and redeem the moment with faithful obedience.