Those rapidly aging fun boys down in McKinney, Texas, are absolutely killing it right now, aren't they? They're churning out a list of oh-so-prophetic signs that we're definitely, positively in the end times—like, for real this time. It's as if COGWA and Bob Thiel all dipped into the same dusty old playbook of exhausted Armstrongist nonsense. But oh boy, the absolute gem is their very first one: the top indicator of impending doom is... wait for it... all those cars zipping around, making people "run to and fro." Seriously? That's their blockbuster revelation? Armstrongism just keeps plumbing new depths of desperation every single day!
Of course, they merrily prattle on with the same worn-out Church of God claptrap, stuff they happily milk for all it's worth when it suits them. Computers and AI? Total boogeymen, until these geniuses need them to power their "awesome" work. And thanks to those evil machines and the internet, news flashes around the globe in an instant, so folks hear about every famine, earthquake, and disaster the second it hits—instead of waiting weeks or months like in the good old days. But hey, facts keep screaming that these things aren't actually ramping up; nope, it's just the news traveling faster. Shocking, right?
The rest of their brilliant collaboration with Bob Thiel is here:
Specifically, the time of the end is when all of the following prophesied circumstances will be in place. Looking at the list below, consider that these dynamics were not present throughout most of human history—or even the first half of the 20th century. But together, they give the picture of a world on the brink of the Great Tribulation. Reading through these identifiers, there now seem to be only a few details yet to materialize before the final 3½ years of this age commence.
- “Many shall run to and fro” (Daniel 12:4): This prophetic trend comes to mind whenever we’re on a crowded road or in a busy airport. There are now over a billion cars around the world, and millions of passengers fly rapidly through the skies every day.
- “Knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4): The last few years have witnessed an explosion of knowledge, manifested in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), self-driving vehicles, wearable technology, cloud computing, 3D printing, quantum computing, instantaneous language translation, advanced robotics and many other jaw-dropping developments.
- The capability for humanity to destroy all life: “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:22). The capacity for humans to destroy all life on the planet did not exist until after 1945, with the advent of the atomic era. Since then, the proliferation of nuclear weapons has made human annihilation possible—multiple times over.
- Increase in famines, disease epidemics and earthquakes: “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7). Luke 21:11 calls them “great” earthquakes. There have been food shortages, pandemics and earthquakes many times throughout human history. But Christ’s specific mention of them in the context of end-time events shows that they will become a much more notable, frequent phenomenon.
- Ability to view an event around the world: Revelation 11:3-11 reveals that shortly before Christ returns, His “two witnesses”—who will testify to the world from Jerusalem for 42 months (3½ years)—will be killed. “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations will see their dead bodiesthree-and-a-half days” (verse 9). For people all around the world to view this, the technology will need to already exist. Not only is this now possible, most of us now see images from other nations daily via satellites and Internet networks.
- An army of 200 million can be fielded: Revelation 9:13-19 describes another event near the end of the 3½ years, during the sixth trumpet. Verse 16 shows that an enormous army will be fielded at that time: “The number of cavalry troops was 200,000,000. I heard how many there were” (International Standard Version). Furthermore, this comes after staggering numbers of humans have already died, as revealed in Revelation 6 through 9. The ability to field such an exceptionally large army was not possible until recent times, when the populations of some nations (such as China and India, for example) or groups of nations grew so dramatically.
- Sacrifices at Jerusalem begin: Daniel 12 points specifically to events at the end of this age (verses 4, 9). Verse 1 calls it the worst time of trouble in human history, which coincides with Christ’s words in Matthew 24:21. How long until all these things are finished? Daniel 12:7 answers that it will be “for a time, times and half a time.” This expression, also mentioned in other prophecies, equates with the final 3½ years (or 1,260 days) before Christ returns.
Verse 11 gives even more details: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety [1,290] days.”
In order for sacrifices to be taken away just before the final 3½ years, they will first need to be started again. At this time, a number of Jews are advocating and preparing for a restoration of the sacrificial system in Jerusalem. Thus far, those efforts have been stymied by both political and civil opposition. However, Bible prophecy makes it clear the day is coming when animal sacrifices will be instituted and then taken away. Read more in our blog post “Does Bible Prophecy Require a Third Temple to Be Built?”
- Jerusalem surrounded by armies: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20). Verse 24 adds that Jerusalem will then come under gentile (non-Israelite) control. Matthew’s account adds the detail that the “abomination of desolation” (connected with the ending of sacrifices) will be part of this takeover of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15).
In Zechariah 12:3, which also refers to Jerusalem in the end times, God says, “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”
If there’s any city on earth that’s in the news almost daily—as a focus of conflict, division, bloodshed and controversy—it’s Jerusalem. It is easy to see how military activity could quickly begin and escalate there at any time. For more about what the Bible reveals regarding Jerusalem, see our article “Jerusalem in Prophecy.”
- Final revival of the Roman Empire: Students of Bible prophecy know that God foretold the rise and fall of four great empires. The fourth was the Roman Empire, and the Bible shows that it would be revived again at the time of the end (Daniel 2:42-44).
The end-time revival of the Roman Empire (which has always been centered in Europe) will be a union of 10 “kings” (or kingdoms or states) who agree to come under the authority of the “beast” spoken of in Revelation 17. “And the ten horns which you saw [in verse 3] are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” (verses 12-13).
These 10 “kings” will not be perfectly unified, but will cooperate to accomplish their mutual goals. This reality is pictured by the 10 toes of the image shown in Daniel 2:42-44. The 10 toes are referred to as “kings” that are together at the end of this age, shortly before God sets up His Kingdom on earth.
Today, multiple voices are encouraging Europe to stand on its own two feet and greatly increase its own military might. And eyes are now turning to Germany, expecting it to take on a greater leadership role. History and prophecy indicate Germany will have a leading role in this future European power.
