Do you remember waiting for a train to arrive? For me, my most vivid memory of this is anticipating the arrival of a commuter train at the Foggy Bottom Metro Station in Washington, D.C. Besides the electronic clock that counted down the minutes until its arrival, I often watched for other signs of the train’s imminent arrival.
The blinking of the inset lights on the platform along the tracks initially indicated the nearness of an incoming train. Soon afterward, I would see its headlight reflecting through the dark tunnel at the far end of the station. As it drew closer, I heard the sound of it rumbling down the tracks and then the screeching of its brakes as it entered the station. Almost simultaneously with these signs, people scurried down the escalators and rushed to get into position to board the incoming train.
I see many similarities between this scene and what I see in the world in advance of the cataclysmic period of time known in Scripture as the Tribulation or the Day of the Lord.
Let me explain . . . .
The Signs Jesus Gave Us
In Matthew 24:4-28, Jesus gave us many indicators of what to expect during the time leading up to and during the Tribulation. For instance, He said we would witness an increase in earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of wars. Like birth pangs, these would increase in both number and severity. We see this especially with earthquakes. In just the past week, there have been 100 earthquakes with an intensity of 4.0 or greater. All these signs are occurring now, exactly as Jesus predicted.
In verses 9-14, the Lord predicted that great persecution of believers would take place during this time with his followers hated by all nations. Yet in spite of this, the gospel would be proclaimed to all nations before He returns to earth. Does this not also fit perfectly with what we see in our world today?
The Temple
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus refers to the “abomination of desolation” predicted by the prophet Daniel. This will occur at the midpoint of the Tribulation when the Antichrist defiles the Jewish temple and begins a severe persecution of Jews worldwide. This means there has to be a Jewish Temple in place for the Antichrist to defile.
Do we see any indication that this temple might be built soon? Absolutely! The Temple Institute in Israel has spent 30 years researching all the details of the temple. They have constructed many of its furnishings including the altar and candlestick. Just this past week, the government of Israel announced it is planning the infrastructure for transporting the expected huge crowds to the third temple when it is built. Even though they do not have access to the temple mount, the government leaders in Israel expect the temple will somehow be built quite soon and are currently planning for it.
The Peace Treaty
Daniel 9:27 predicts that the coming Antichrist will make a covenant “with many” that will start the clock for the Tribulation. This peace treaty, which will undoubtedly include Israel, may perhaps pave the way for the building of the new temple. For many years, many have tried to bring peace to the Middle East and failed to do so.
Despite the failures of so many, it remains the never-ending quest of so many world leaders as they continually seek “peace and security” believing it starts with resolving the conflict between Israel and those who call themselves Palestinians. Even the oft repeated phrase in numerous news accounts all around the world is yet another indicator of the nearness of this day (1 Thess. 5:3).
The One World Government
As first predicted by the prophet Daniel, the Antichrist will rise to power via a world government. We see this in Revelation 13 where this future leader controls buying and selling worldwide. Do we see the lead up to this world government in our world today? Oh yes!
The UN, through its 2030 Initiative, has already provided the framework for such a government. Many influential voices in our world are currently pushing for this new world order including George Soros along with many of the powerful bankers throughout Europe. Pope Francis just this past week issued an urgent plea for a one world government using the ruse of the climate change crisis as the reason his appeal for the world to band together under one government.
The One World Religion
Along with the one world government, a one world religion will also arise during the Tribulation, led by a future person designated in the book of Revelation as the False Prophet. By the midpoint of the Tribulation, he will force humanity to worship the Antichrist or face dire consequences.
Again, we see compelling evidence that everything is also in place for this one world religion. At the end of June, Pope Francis hosted a video conference of religious leaders from all over the world pushing for just such unity of all religions, precisely as foreseen in Revelation 13. Everything is happening to bring about this one world religion, just as Scripture says will happen just before Jesus’ Second Coming.
Impending Disasters
Have you ever seen such a time with so much speculation of impending disasters? When speaking of a major deadly earthquake in Californian, geologists speculate as to “when” it might happen, not “if.” Although these same experts say a volcanic eruption in Yellowstone Park is not likely anytime soon, there have been over 800 small earthquakes there in the past few weeks, which has increased speculation that such a cataclysmic event might happen a whole lot sooner than many expect.
It seems as though these Tribulation scale disasters, along with the predicted worldwide economic crash, are just waiting, suspended in time, for the right trigger to set everything in motion. Yet we wait.
There’s something else I noticed while waiting for trains to arrive at Foggy Bottom. Although I could at times see the reflection of a headlight as I stood on the platform, the train paused before entering the station. Sometimes this happened because there was another train in the station still loading passengers. At other times, I speculated that perhaps the train was ahead of schedule causing it to pause before entering the station.
I believe this is where we are at in regard to the Tribulation. We can see the headlight of the train reflecting through the dark tunnel. The Tribulation is so near we can almost hear its arrival, yet it awaits an appointed time.
With everything falling exactly into place for its beginning, why is there a delay? I believe the Lord in his mercy is waiting for as many people as possible to find eternal life in Him before initiating this horrible time of judgment.
God’s sense of time is much different than ours (see 2 Peter 3:8-9). We cannot know exactly when the Tribulation will start; we just know everything is getting ready for that day to begin based on all the signs we see throughout the world.
In the midst of describing this coming day of the Lord’s wrath that will one day overtake the world, the prophet Isaiah makes this statement, “O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it” (Isaiah 26:11).
As the Lord lifts up His hand in judgment at some point, many will not see that as well. Is this already happening?
If there is anything that characterizes America today (even many in the church), it’s a total disregard for the words of Scripture. Many worship of Jesus of their own making refusing to believe He would judge or punish anyone who rejects Him.
Are you ready for our Savior to come? The inset lights along the tracks are blinking; the signs of the coming Tribulation abound in our world. With the start of the Tribulation fast approaching, how much longer can it be until Jesus comes for His followers and takes us home? (See John 14:2-3.)
He is coming for us before this terrible time on earth starts (1 Thess. 5:3, 9).