JESUS’ END TIMES TEACHINGS
Jesus taught and promised his disciples that he would return at the end of time to bring about the new heaven and new earth (John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-4). Before Jesus returns, there will be spiritual “birth pains,” which are events before the “signs” of the end.
Jesus taught about the end times. Free Bible Images.
“Birth pains” before the “signs” of the end.
Many people will come and mislead many others by saying they are Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:3-5, 8; Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:7-8).
There will be wars and rumors of wars, and rebellions (Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke21:9).
Nations and kingdoms will rise up in arms against each other (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8, Luke 21:10).
“There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains” and also plagues (Mark 13:8 NET, see also Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11).
“Signs” of the end.
Christians will be persecuted, killed, and hated by all the nations and betrayed by parents, brothers, and friends, because of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:9; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-19).
Many people will be led into sin, and they will betray and hate one another (Matthew 24:10).
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people (Matthew 24:11).
Many false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive many people, even Christians. Some would be put to death and others would endure and gain their lives (Matthew 24:24, Mark 13: 22-23).
The love of many people will grow cold because lawlessness will increase so much (Matthew 24:12).
The “gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” and “the person who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13-14 NET).
The “abomination of desolation-spoken about Daniel the prophet (Daniel 9:27) -standing in the holy place”” will occur (Matthew 24:15 NET; Mark 13:14-23, Luke 21:5-6, 20-24). This is an event that desecrates the temple in Jerusalem, signaling to Christians that soon false messiahs and prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive. Jerusalem will also be destroyed, and people should flee Jerusalem and Judea. It may refer to the destruction of the temple in AD 70 by the Romans, or Roman plans to set up a statue of the emperor in the temple, or some other past or future event, depending on the interpretation view of the end times.
“The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29 NET; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-26).
“On the earth nations will be in distress, [and] anxious, over the roaring of the sea and surging waves” (Luke 21:25 NET).
All the tribes on earth will mourn and see the Son of Man (Jesus) arrive and appear on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27-28).
A loud trumpet will sound and angels will gather God’s elect (Christians) (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27).
No one knows on what day Lord Jesus will come because he will come unexpectantly. Therefore, Christians should stay alert and be ready for Jesus’ return (Matthew 24:42-44, 25:13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-36).
Timothy Paul Jones, Rose Guide to End-Times Prophecy (Peabody, MS: Rose Publishing, 2011), 320.