When it comes to studying end-times prophecy, there are books, blogs, and Bible studies beyond number. In our personal search, however, we have found that most resources go into extreme detail. It’s easy to be overwhelmed before you even get started.

What follows is our attempt to take a step back, look at the big picture, and share some signposts that can help us identify where we are on the biblical, prophetic roadmap. God has given His children knowledge of these signposts ahead of time so we will know how to best use our time and prepare for what comes next. That is what living strategically is all about.

When did the end times start?

The “end times” started in the first century AD. The apostles considered themselves to be living in the end times, which biblically means the period of the new covenant leading up to the second coming of Jesus. But there are many signs which will show we are nearing the end of the end times, the events of the book of Revelation that describe the final years leading to the return of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13, Jesus gave a list of “the beginning of birth pangs” that would be precursors to His return, including persecution of the saints, false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. But Jesus is careful to explain that although these things must happen, they do not mean that the end is near. However, there will eventually be one giant, unmistakeable sign that ushers in a “great tribulation,” followed immediately by His return. (More on that in a moment.)

The takeaway from these prophetic passages is that there are signs to watch for. We are not completely in the dark, and while no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return, we should be able to see it coming.

The Next Signposts

War

Yes, war has been a regular feature in most of human history, and it is one of the things that Jesus said does not mean that the end has come. However, it is still worthwhile to pay attention to military actions in the Middle East because there are some unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies about wars. When these things come to pass, the world is one step closer to the resolution of the age.

  • Some believe the “Gog of Magog” war, described in Ezekiel 38-39, will come before the events of Revelation.  Others believe this war describes the battle of Armageddon, which happens at the triumphant return of Christ near the end of Revelation. Either way, the scenario is that Israel will be attacked by its neighbors and other major powers, but will be miraculously delivered by the hand of God. If this war happens sooner rather than later, it will be hard to miss—but if it happens later rather than sooner, we shouldn’t let the absence of it affect our perception of other signs.
  • Before the end, we will see war between the powers in the Middle East as described in Daniel 8:1-14. This war describes Iran (the ram) conquering new territory, but being overcome by “the goat”.  We believe this stands for Turkey, based on the connection to the territory of Javan (or Yavan) in verse 21. (Many translations render Yavan as Greece.) Four kingdoms emerge (verse 8), leading to the rise of the Antichrist (the “little horn”).
  • The power structure of the world, and especially of the Middle East is likely to change, with a trend toward consolidation of power. Currently, there are three major regional powers in the Middle East vying for supremacy: Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. End times prophecy depicts the nations of the Middle East acting with a level of unity that at the time of this writing they do not currently display.

The Abomination of Desolation

This is the big one, the sign that cannot be missed, the lynchpin of end-times prophecy that both Jesus and Paul give as a fool-proof reference point.

Daniel 9:27 lays the foundation: “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week [a week of years, meaning seven years], but in the middle of the week [after 3.5 years] he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (Brackets added.)

Jesus adds some detail in Matthew 24: “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. […] For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”

And Paul makes it crystal clear in II Thessalonians 2: “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

To summarize: there will be a powerful leader who initiates a seven-year “covenant” that involves Israel, but three and a half years into the covenant, he will set himself up as God in the temple. Other passages in Daniel and Revelation make it clear that the very end, the return of Christ, will happen three and a half years after the abomination of desolation.

When we see something that looks like the seven year covenant, we should be on very high alert.  When we see the abomination of desolation, we’ll know exactly, beyond any shadow of a doubt, where we are on the calendar of end-times prophecy.

It’s worth pointing out that the abomination of desolation requires the existence of the temple and the re-institution of the Torah’s sacrificial system in Jerusalem. If that seems far fetched to you, consider that 100 years ago, most people thought end-times prophesies about the nation of Israel could not possibly be literal because there was no nation of Israel. If God can bring back an entire nation to validate His Word, He can bring back one building!

The Events of Revelation

The entire tribulation that surrounds and follows the abomination of desolation is described in great detail in the book of Revelation. One key in studying this book is to look for Jesus in what you read. The first verse says, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…” (Revelation 1:1).  Our faith in Jesus will get us through any trial, and we must remember that all the trials the earth will go through in the end times are part of the plan of God.  He will sustain us! Don’t let your hearts be troubled!

We know there will be war, terror, and severe weather during the tribulation.  There will be an increase in the shakings that God sends on the earth, first with the “seal judgments” (see Revelation 5-7) and then the “trumpet judgments” (see Revelation 8-9).  These shakings are meant to bring people to repentance but the majority will not turn to the Lord as their Savior. Satan will keep his strong hold on many.

It is our belief that the rapture is described in Revelation 14:14-16. The wrath of God greatly increases at this point, figuratively pictured in Revelation 14:17-20. His wrath takes the form of the “bowl judgments” in chapters 15-16 and culminates in the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-21).

Conclusion

As one begins studying prophecy of the end times, fear is a common reaction. But fear is a weapon of the enemy. Scripture never tells us to be afraid of the world or the powers of darkness. “Be sober, be vigilant,” absolutely, but never lose sight of the One who wins in the end.

Now you know the main signposts to keep in mind as we stay alert for the approach of the end of the end. Many prophecy teachers proclaim that the return of Christ could happen any moment, but it’s not as simple as that. God has a specific timeline for the events of the end times, and in His grace He has revealed enough of it to us that we shouldn’t be lost or confused when we see it unfolding.