“WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE?”

Jesus’ followers asked him:

“When will these things be, and what will be the sign of our presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matthew 24:3)

Jesus’ reply, along with other inspired writings after his death, tells us what could occur when God’s time to end suffering was near.

Let’s compare the prophecies below with conditions and attitudes prevalent today.

Global war

Matthew 24:7 -8

“For nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.

And these things are the beginning of pangs of distress.”

Revelation 6:4

“And another came forth, a fiery-colored horse; and to the one seated upon it there was granted to take peace away from the Earth so that they should slaughter one another; and a great sword was given him.”

Famine and Disease

Luke 21:11

“And there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after the another pestilences and food shortages, and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.

Revelation 6:5-8

“And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say “Come!” And I saw, and, look! A black hors; and the one seated upon it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice as if in the midst of the four living creatures say: “A quart of wheat for a de-nar-i-us, and three quarts of barley for a de-nar-i-us; and do not harm the olive oil and the wine.”

And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say: “Come!” and I saw, and, look! A pale horse; and the one seated upon it had the name Death and Hades was closely following him. And authority was given them over the fourth part of the Earth, to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Ruining the Earth

Revelation 11:18

“But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give their reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring ruin those ruining the earth.

Lovers of money

2 Timothy 3:2

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self – assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal,”

Disobedient to parents

2 Timothy 3:2

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self – assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal”

Lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of money

2 Timothy 3:4

“betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lover of pleasures rather than lovers of god, ”

Source: Awake! July 2011