Revelation 1:1 (NLT), “This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to His servant John,”

The phrase ‘soon take place’ literally means that the events that mark the end times will happen in quick succession. Once the timeclock begins, there is no stopping the rapid pace of these events. Jesus explained the signs that indicate we have entered into the end times in Matthew 24. This is the context of that passage: On one particular day, after teaching at the temple, while they were making their way towards their lodgings, the disciples drew Jesus’ attention back towards where the temple with all its buildings stood, looking magnificent in the late afternoon sun. Jesus turned to them and said the day was coming where not 1 stone of the temple would be left on top of another. About 40 years after Jesus prophesied this, it took place in 70AD. When they reached their destination, at the Mount of Olives, the disciples, still intrigued by what Jesus had just prophesied, asked Him what the signs of His second coming, and end of the age would be. They thought the destruction of the temple was linked to His rise of power and the end of Roman domination over God’s people. Jesus likened 3 particular phases of the end of the age to the labor pains of a pregnant woman. They would begin with mild troubles, rapidly increasing to extreme and severe devastation and destruction. Matthew 24:4-8 describes what will happen in the first phase: Great deception through false Christs; wars and rumours of wars; famines; pestilences and earthquakes. The second phase is explained in verses 9-14: Persecution of Christians, the falling away of the faith; hatred and betrayal; increased deception of false prophets; increased wickedness of society; decreased love, and the spreading of the Gospel globally. The third and last phase is described from verse 15 and speaks of the great tribulation. This is where the Anti-Christ will appear on the world stage - setting himself up in the 3rd, re-built temple in Jerusalem, to be worshiped by humanity. Many other scriptures confirm that at the end of the tyrannical reign of the Anti-Christ, where he will wage war against God’s Jewish nation, Jesus will return, with His glorious church. He will destroy the enemies of God and gather His Jewish nation to Himself, and they will finally recognize and declare Him to be their Messiah. Regardless of which phase we currently find the world experiencing today - our mandate is clear! We are to draw even closer to the Lord, be continually led by His Spirit and establish His kingdom, while there is still time to do so.  Get ready, Jesus is coming soon!