Signs Of The End Of The World
Question:
What are the signs by which we will recognise that the
end of the world is near? Many speak about, and
predict the time for the end of the world and even
suggest dates for it.
Answer:
We shall mention here the signs that were recorded in the
Bible:
The coming of the Anti-Christ
This subject is very clearly indicated in the words of St. Paul
" Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will
not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of
sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts
himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so
that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself
that he is God. … whom the Lord will consume with the
breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His
coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the
working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,
because they did not receive thelove of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thess. 2:3-10).
There will be enormous falling away because of the
wonders that will be manifested by the false prophet
with the power of Satan and many will believe and
apostatise from the true faith.
This falling was mentioned in the previous point (2 Thess. 2:3)
and also in (1 Tim 4:1) "Now the spirit expressly says that in
latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. " This failing
away will be a severe and general one to the point that the
Lord said about it "And unless those days were shortened,
no flesh would be saved,. but for the elect's sake those days
will be shortened. " (Matt. 24:22).
Although during history many things had happened, this
general falling which is due to the miracles of that false
prophet, did not happen yet. The Lord also said:
"For false christs and false prophets will arise and show
great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even
the elect. " (Matt. 24:24).
All these will be reasons for the fall. The Lord also said
about these difficult days "Satan will be released from his
prison, and will go out to deceive the nations. " (Rev.
20:7&8)
Another sign is the salvation of the Jews ie. their belief in
the Lord Christ.When St. Paul talked about the belief of the Jews first then
the joining of the Gentiles to the faith, ie. "the grafting of
the wild olive tree into the original olive tree, " he said
"How much more will these, who are the natural branches,
be grafted into their own olive tree?" (Rom. 11:16-24).
Then he said explicitly "... that hardening in part has
happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has
come in, and so all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:25&26)
he means the spiritual salvation by their joining the faith.
Final signs which are the desolation of nature...
The Lord said "Immediately after the tribulation of those
days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. " (Matt. 24).
The Last sign is the appearance of Christ's sign in
heaven...
After the desolation of nature, the Lord said "then the sign
of the Son of Man will appear in heaven..... and they will
see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory, and He will send His angels with a
great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His
elect... " (Matt. 24) and that will be the end.
A comment on these signs: It is clear that the Anti-christ
did not appear yet with his miracles, and accordingly the
general falling did not happen. As the Jews did not believe
yet, and the false prophets making signs and wonders did not
appear either, but as of the wars and rumours of wars, these
are the beginning of sorrows. (Matt. 24:8).
Question:
What are the signs by which we will recognise that the
end of the world is near? Many speak about, and
predict the time for the end of the world and even
suggest dates for it.
Answer:
We shall mention here the signs that were recorded in the
Bible:
The coming of the Anti-Christ
This subject is very clearly indicated in the words of St. Paul
" Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will
not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of
sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts
himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so
that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself
that he is God. … whom the Lord will consume with the
breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His
coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the
working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,
because they did not receive thelove of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thess. 2:3-10).
There will be enormous falling away because of the
wonders that will be manifested by the false prophet
with the power of Satan and many will believe and
apostatise from the true faith.
This falling was mentioned in the previous point (2 Thess. 2:3)
and also in (1 Tim 4:1) "Now the spirit expressly says that in
latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to
deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. " This failing
away will be a severe and general one to the point that the
Lord said about it "And unless those days were shortened,
no flesh would be saved,. but for the elect's sake those days
will be shortened. " (Matt. 24:22).
Although during history many things had happened, this
general falling which is due to the miracles of that false
prophet, did not happen yet. The Lord also said:
"For false christs and false prophets will arise and show
great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even
the elect. " (Matt. 24:24).
All these will be reasons for the fall. The Lord also said
about these difficult days "Satan will be released from his
prison, and will go out to deceive the nations. " (Rev.
20:7&8)
Another sign is the salvation of the Jews ie. their belief in
the Lord Christ.When St. Paul talked about the belief of the Jews first then
the joining of the Gentiles to the faith, ie. "the grafting of
the wild olive tree into the original olive tree, " he said
"How much more will these, who are the natural branches,
be grafted into their own olive tree?" (Rom. 11:16-24).
Then he said explicitly "... that hardening in part has
happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has
come in, and so all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:25&26)
he means the spiritual salvation by their joining the faith.
Final signs which are the desolation of nature...
The Lord said "Immediately after the tribulation of those
days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. " (Matt. 24).
The Last sign is the appearance of Christ's sign in
heaven...
After the desolation of nature, the Lord said "then the sign
of the Son of Man will appear in heaven..... and they will
see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory, and He will send His angels with a
great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His
elect... " (Matt. 24) and that will be the end.
A comment on these signs: It is clear that the Anti-christ
did not appear yet with his miracles, and accordingly the
general falling did not happen. As the Jews did not believe
yet, and the false prophets making signs and wonders did not
appear either, but as of the wars and rumours of wars, these
are the beginning of sorrows. (Matt. 24:8).
