October 21, 2017
Best Evidence We’re In the Last Days
Shawn Nelson
Can we know when Jesus is coming back?
Some people have tried to predict exactly when Jesus would come back. For example,
Harold Camping predicted Sep. 6, 1994, May 21, 2011 and Oct. 21 2011. There have been
many others.1
But the Bible says we cannot know exact time:
Matthew 24:36 --- “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but
My Father only.”
Acts 1:7 --- “And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father
has put in His own authority.”
We might not know the exact time, but we can certainly see the stage is being set:
Matthew 16:2-3 --- ‘He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair
weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red
and threatening.’ Hypocrites! [speaking to Pharisees about events of his 1st coming] You know
how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.’
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 --- “5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no
need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so
comes as a thief in the night… 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day
should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of
the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be
sober.”
Luke 21:29–31 --- “…Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding,
you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these
things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.”
1See Wikipedia, s.v. “Predictions and claims for the Second Coming of Christ,” accessed October 21, 2017,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictions_and_claims_for_the_Second_Coming_of_Christ
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What is implied with the end-times scenario?
The view we’ve been teaching (Premillennialism) says there will be a literal world leader
(antichrist) who is able to establish peace treaty in the Middle East between Israel and her
neighbors for 7 years (Dan. 9:24-27). In the middle of the 7 years he walks into the temple in
Jerusalem, takes away the sacrifices (Dan. 12:11), and declares himself to be God (Dan. 9:27;
11:31; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; 2 Thess. 2:3-4). He forces everybody to worship him (2 Thess.
2:4; Rev. 13:15) and requires them to have a mark in order to buy or sell anything anywhere in
the world (Rev. 13:16).
Daniel 9:24, 27 --- “Seventy weeks are determined for your people [Israelites] and for your
holy city [Jerusalem]… Then he [the “abomination of desolation,” aka antichrist] shall confirm
a covenant with many for one week [7 years]; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an
end to sacrifice and offering…”
Matthew 24:15 --- “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…”
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 --- “3 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, 4 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.”
Revelation 13:16–17 --- “16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell
except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
What things are implied by the above Scriptures?
1. Existence of nation of Israel
2. One world leader & global government
a. Mean a breaking down of national borders
b. And a breaking down of national economies (one world economy)
3. The Jewish temple would be rebuilt
4. A people tracking system
a. Every purchase is tracked
b. A “mark” to determine whether part of the system
c. Technology like computers and Internet are implied
These things are happening today right before our eyes. This is evidence that his return is
very near. Now let’s look at each area.
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How does the rebirth of Israel show we are near the end?
Israel was destroyed in AD 70. For nearly 2000 years it did not even exist as a nation.
• The Romans became displeased with tax revenue from the Jews in AD 66. So they
massacred 3,600 Jewish citizens and seized silver from Jewish temple. This started the
First Jewish Revolt.
• Some Zealots attacked and expelled Romans at Masada.
• Others Jews attacked Roman troops in Jerusalem, then Judea and Galilee.
• Eventually Emperor Nero sent General Vespasian and then his son Titus into
Jerusalem.
• Titus eventually crushed the starving Jewish people in AD 70.
• Wanted to preserve the Temple but soldiers were so angry they burned it. (Mt. 24:2)
• Those who survived were sold as slaves.
• Jews at Masada remained for 3 more years until the Romans built a ramp to get up to
the top (where they found all the Jews committed suicide to avoid being captured).2
This was the end of Israel. The problem is that the Bible verses above all speak of an antichrist
who establishes peace between the nation of Israel and surrounding nations. If you were living
in the time after AD 70 you might wonder: how can all the prophesies of the second coming
be fulfilled if there is no nation of Israel? Here’s the story of how Israel just recently became a
nation once again:
• In 19th century Jewish families lead by Theodor Herzl began to migrate back to
Palestine (he coined the name Zionism).
• Herzl was upset how Jewish people were treated
o Much anti-Semite sentiment in the church: the official church theology was
the church fulfilled promises to Israel (who rejected and crucified messiah)
o Jews were persecuted throughout Middle Ages (e.g., during Crusades the
“Christian” knights would practice their military skills on Jewish people back
home. The First Crusade began with the murder of 50,000 Jews.)
• Herzl believed the Jewish people would never be free from persecution living as
minorities in non-Jewish countries. They needed a land of their own. Suggestions
included Uganda, Argentina and Palestine.
• 6 million Jews were exterminated in the Holocaust during World War II.
• In response to these atrocities the Jewish people were allowed to form a Jewish state
under support of the United Nations in 1948.3
Conclusion: The nation of Israel has only existed as a nation again since May 15, 1948 – or 69
years. The fact that it’s a nation once again has made it possible for prophesies about antichrist
(and the many other prophesies about Israel) to be fulfilled. This is the biggest evidence we
are near the end.
2 “A.D. 70 Titus Destroys Jerusalem,” Christianity Today, November, 2017, accessed October 21, 2017,
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-28/ad-70-titus-destroys-jerusalem.html.
3 Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths (InterVarsity Press), 73.
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Is there evidence that we’re moving toward a one-world government?
United Nations and the European Union
Many believe formation of the United Nations is another big clue that the end times is
near. Although the United Nations is not mentioned in Scripture by name, the concept of a
one-world-global-government is. The Bible mentions the rise of a confederation of 10
nations (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 7:16–24; Daniel 2:41–42). One of these will displace 3 others
and go on to rule over the entire world (Dan. 7:23).4
Dan. 7:23 --- “…‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different
from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth…”
The European Union which was formed November 1, 1993 is also a step toward a one-
world government. A similar attempt has been made to unify North America in what’s called
the North American Union (Canada, Mexico and the United States). It has been proposed
that the NAU would even have its own currency called the “amero” which is similar to the
“euro.” People believe the NAFTA superhighway (aka Trans-Texas Corridor) is a step towards
achieving the NAU.
In the past year we’ve seen a backlash against globalization (populism). While populism
may prevent consolidation for a time, it’s likely that globalism cannot be prevented.
Quotes showing agenda to form a one-world government:5
• “The drive of the Rockefellers and their allies is to create a one-world government
combining super capitalism and Communism under the same tent, all under their
control.... Do I mean conspiracy? Yes I do. I am convinced there is such a plot,
international in scope, generations old in planning, and incredibly evil in intent.” (Larry
McDonald, US House of Representatives)
• “We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis
and the nations will accept the New World Order.” (David Rockefeller)
Warning: conspiracy area! The recent trend is to label people who believe there’s a secret
agenda to establish NWO as conspiracy theorists. Regardless, many prophecy followers
continue to look for evidence of a powerful elite secretive group conspiring to bring about a
one-world government by dissolving national borders through rushed immigration reform,
fabricating crises to remove civil rights, funding the United Nations through a global carbon
tax, etc. Many point to groups like the Bilderberg Group, the Trilateral Commission and
wealthy elite families like the Kissingers, Rothschilds and Rockefellers. Many think George
Soros is involved. We wouldn’t expect all conspiracy theories to be true. But at a minimum
4 “Does the Bible say the United Nations will have a role in the end times?,” Got Questions?, accessed October
21, 2017, https://www.gotquestions.org/United-Nations-end-times.html.
5 “One World Government Quotes,” AZ Quotes, accessed October 21, 2017,
http://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/one-world-government.html.
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the Bible supports the conspiracy that fallen angels have been at work to bring about
Satan’s agenda on earth (Eph. 6:12). And Satan’s revealed goal is worldwide worship of
himself under an antichrist (Rev. 13:15; 2 Thess. 2:4).
Are there any plans for the Jewish people to rebuild the temple?
Many Orthodox Jews believe that when the Messiah comes, the temple will be rebuilt and
sacrifices will be reinstated.6 The Temple Mount Faithful was formed in 1967. Its stated goal
is:
“The goal of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement is the building of
the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in our lifetime in accordance with
the Word of G-d and all the Hebrew prophets and the liberation of the Temple Mount
from Arab (Islamic) occupation so that it may be consecrated to the Name of G-d.”
(templemountfaithful.org)
All of the instruments for temple service have been built and are ready (you can actually see
them in Israel today). The problem is that the Muslims have a holy site on the spot where it’s
believed the temple used to be (this is the Dome of the Rock, the 3rd most holy site in Islam
said to be the location of Muhammad’s Night Journey into heaven).
It is believed that the antichrist will be the first person to negotiate peace between Arabs and
Jews so that somehow they will agree to let the Jewish people rebuild the temple.
How do computers, the internet and other tech show we are near the end?
Many believe computers / the internet are connected to the “mark of the beast”:
Rev. 13:16-18 --- “16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell
except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is
the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Computers & Internet make this possible
The very first computer was built in 1946 (used 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighed 50 tons). In
1955 there were only 250 computers in the world. The first personal computers came as kits
in 1975. In the 80s, personal computers became popular (30 million sold). Today, it seems that
everything is or has a computer chip (TVs, cars, phones, refrigerators).
The birth of the Internet (TCP/IP) was Jan. 1, 1983. The World Wide Web was created in 1990.
Most people began hopping online beginning in mid-90s. Today, nearly everyone is
connected to the web via their smartphone.
6 Winfried Corduan, Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions (InterVarsity Press), 62.
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It’s difficult to imagine life today without computers and the internet. Technology has
revolutionized every industry.
The point: Today, it’s not difficult to imagine how every single person on the face of the
earth must be part of a system in order to buy or sell anything. This will obviously be done
through online software using global servers—a people tracking system like the many that are
already deployed today.
Could implanted RFID chip be the mark of the beast?
On Aug. 24, 1998 Kevin Warwick implanted an RFID chip under his skin. He was able to open
doors, turn on lights and heaters by simply walking into a room. Some companies, like Three
Square Market in Wisconsin, are beginning to install microchips into their employee’s hands
so they could have keyless access to the building and automatically pay for their meals in the
cafeteria. This sounds precisely like what is mentioned in Rev. 13!
But RFID chips can be removed. The Bible seems to imply that if a person receives the mark
of the beast there is no hope for salvation anymore. Listen to these verses:
Revelation 14:9–10 --- “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on
his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God...”
Revelation 15:2 --- “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those [the
saved] who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the
number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God…”
If the mark were just a silicon RFID implant the size of a grain of rice it could be dug out of the
forearm or forehead (the arm can even e hacked off). So it seems to be more than simple chip.
See next idea.
Could mark of the beast be human/internet integration?
A brain-to-machine interface might also be involved. With human/machine integration the
system is literally in your head. It would not be possible to repent because others can then
control you. One would lose free will (the ability to do otherwise) at that point. This would be a
complete merger into the system with no hope of return.
This sounds like science fiction but it’s not. There are groups actively working on merging
man and machine (transhumanism). DARPA (the US Military) has also recently announced
it is spending $65M towards brain-to-machine implants. The DARPA website says the goal
is to develop “an implantable system able to provide precision communication between the
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brain and the digital world. Such an interface would convert the electrochemical signaling used
by neurons in the brain into the ones and zeros…”7
Also, in August, 2017, Elon Musk revealed he was creating “a brain interface startup” called
“Neuralink” with $27M initial funding. Elon said the goal of Neuralink is so people could
communicate brain-to-brain (thereby bypassing verbal language) for more efficient
communication,8 as well as give people the ability to directly access enormous computational
power and data through online connectivity.
Review: What things are implied by biblical end-times prophesy?
1. Existence of nation of Israel
2. One world leader & global government
a. Mean a breaking down of national borders
b. And a breaking down of national economies (one world economy)
3. The Jewish temple would be rebuilt
4. A people tracking system
a. Every purchase is tracked
b. A “mark” to determine whether part of the system
c. Technology like computers and Internet are implied
These things are happening today right before our eyes!
Is there anything else that shows we are close to the end?
People have pointed to the following:
1. Increase in knowledge. Dan 12:4 --- “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the
book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall
increase.”
2. Increase in ease of transportation. Dan. 12:4 again -- “many shall run to and fro”
3. Artificial Intelligence. Rev. 13 --- “He was granted power to give breath to the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak…” Ray Kurzweil, director of
engineering at Google, believes that artificial intelligence will pass human intelligence
around 2045—a concept he calls the “singularity.”
4. Nuclear weapons -- Eze. 38:22; 39:9 talks about weapons burning for 7 years. Eze.
39:11-15, esp. 15 hints at radioactive contamination.
5. Population explosion. Matt. 24:37 --- ”But as the days of Noah were, so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.” Some believe the population could have been very high
7 “Towards a High-Resolution, Implantable Neural Interface,” DARPA, July 10, 2017, accessed October 21,
2017, https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2017-07-10.
8 “Elon Musk’s brain interface startup Neuralink files $27M fundraise,” TechCrunch, August 25, 2017,
accessed October 21, 2017, https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/25/elon-musks-brain-interface-startup-
neuralink-files-27m-fundraise/.
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since pre-flood lifespans were reportedly longer (Gen. 5). Also, Rev. 9:16 mentions a
200 million person army; there were only 100-200 million people alive on earth at time
of Christ.
6. False Messiahs -- Matthew 24:5, 23-26 indicates the end times would be characterized
by people claiming to be Jesus in his second coming. This seems to be on the rise. For a
list of people who have made this claim see
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_claimed_to_be_Jesus
7. Wars / Rumors of Wars (World War I & II) -- Matt. 24:6 “And you will hear of wars and
rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass,
but the end is not yet.”
8. Increase in earthquakes / natural disasters – From previous passage -- Matthew 24:7–
8 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be
famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of
sorrows.” (However, Steve Austin and Mark Strauss strongly disagree that
earthquakes are on the rise; see http://www.icr.org/research/index/researchp_sa_r06/)
9. UFOs – Gen. 6:1-2. Some people think one reason for the flood was because demons
were mating with humans in an attempt to corrupt gene pool of promised messiah.
These hold that aliens are either demons or offspring of human/demon relations.
10. Increase in false teaching. 1 Tim 4:1 --- “…in latter times some will depart from the
faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”
11. Lack of morality (seems to be talking about the church) --- 2 Tim 3:1-5 “…in the last
days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving,
unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of
godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
What should we conclude?
Sometimes it seems like the world is in chaos. But we can be encouraged that history is
playing out exactly the way God described beforehand in biblical prophecy. It gives us comfort
to know God is in control and that He wins in the end.
Revelation 22:6–7 --- ‘Then he said to me, “These words [Revelation] are faithful and true.”
And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which
must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of
the prophecy of this book.”’
