Bible Study Lesson on Signs of the Times

Daniel 12:4 - '...to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.'
Revelation 13:16-17 describes the control of the world by the Anti-Christ. Surveillance technology: satellites, GPS systems, cameras on street corners, in public buildings, and ATMs, etc., even surveillance via computers. Also, biometric identification systems, such as fingerprint, eye and facial recognition systems. All pushing forward in the name of security and protecting against the threat of terror.

In the works are sensors to discern suspicious thought patterns: automatic measuring of blood pressure, pulse, perspiration, nervous movements or facial expressions. This will be done by machines to be used at border crossings, etc. Anything suspicious will be recorded and reported.

Lasers and microwaves will be able to detect concealed objects at longer distances. Remote controlled sensors will be able record pulse, temperature, blood pressure, etc. Intelligent software will separate tourists from potential criminals.

All these lead to more power to exercise control - leading to a total control under one dictator in a totalitarian regime. This has been attempted many times before, such as Babylon, Assyria, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, and finally the Anti-Christ with the greatest tools at his disposal. Daniel describes this as the last attempt of man to achieve a peaceful global empire without God. This kingdom will be different from all previous ones. It will take over the entire world, treading it down and breaking it in pieces (Daniel 7:23).

The recent rise to prominence of the European Union has started all nations on the path to globalization. It is seen as the logical and inevitable way to prosperity which will bring happiness, contentment, and world peace. The whole 'global warming' movement adds an emotional and universal impetus in this direction. The claim is that without all people cooperating in the struggle for a solution, the Earth will not survive. The claim is that man caused it, so man is responsible to band together to solve it, or else.

It is saddening that a great many Christians are still anti-Semitic. Some Muslims have vowed to eradicate Israel. They also condemned and berated any ability of the Jews to successfully settle in Israel. It was also widely maintained that the returning Jews could not have their own language (Hebrew) revived and commonly spoken. Any and all such rejection and derision are additional strong signs of the end times. The close of the Church Age brings in the spiritual restoration of Israel (Daniel 12:1).

Matthew 24:2 - 'And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved...' Only in our time could it be said that man had produced the means to totally destroy life on earth. God must intervene to prevent it. God's judgment against the hostile powers who will gather against Israel will be to cause them to fight one another (Zechariah 14:13). It appears that all electronic communications systems will fail (crash), leading to utter chaos.

The kings of the east will put together an army of 200 million soldiers (Revelation 9:16; 16:12). China claims to have this ability, having over 1 billion people.

The sign of Sodom was predicted by Jesus as another sign (Luke 17:18,30). Isaiah 3:9 - 'They declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not...' II Timothy 4:4: 'Andy they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.' Something false or invented like the curious theory of evolution, which is spoken of by its adherents as established 'truth' or fact. The claim is logic, and science, in spite of all scientific, observable laws such as the 2nd law of thermodynamics and of irreducible complexity etc. This theory actually requires a great amount of faith based on conjecture that has continually changed from its beginnings from Darwin, Big Bang, etc., ad nauseum. In contrast to all this is the remarkable and unique amount of recorded fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.

All nations were formed by God. They are evaluated by God. They are judged by God.

Acts 17:26: 'God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.'

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