For over two millennia, Christians have eagerly anticipated the return of Jesus Christ — the moment when He will full fill His promise to bring justice, restoration, and eternal peace. This event, often called the Second Coming, is central to the Christian faith. But Scripture also makes it clear that before this glorious return, certain signs will unfold across the world.
The Importance of Watching the Signs
Before listing the seven signs, it’s important to understand why Jesus gave these warnings in the first place.
📖 Matthew 24:42 says:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
A Call to Spiritual Readiness
Jesus’ teaching about the end times was never intended to fuel fear or speculation about dates. Instead, it was a call to vigilance and readiness. Just as travellers prepare for a long journey, believers are urged to prepare their hearts, live faithfully, and spread the Gospel in anticipation of His return.
1. Wars and Global Conflicts
Throughout history, humanity has witnessed wars and violent clashes. Yet Jesus warned that such turmoil would intensify as His return draws near.
📖 Matthew 24:6–7 records Jesus saying:
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
Growing Unrest Across Nations
Modern times echo this prophecy, with conflicts spreading across continents, civil wars shaking nations, and global powers in constant tension. While wars alone do not prove the end is immediate, their increase reminds believers that the world remains broken and in need of God’s final restoration.
2. False Teachers and Spiritual Deception
Another clear sign is the rise of misleading voices within religion itself.
📖 Matthew 24:11 says:
“Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”
The Danger of Misleading Doctrines
False teachers distort biblical truth for personal gain, political influence, or spiritual control. In today’s age of mass communication, deceptive messages can spread faster than ever, drawing people away from the authentic Gospel.
3. Natural Disasters and Environmental Shifts
Jesus also spoke of disturbances within creation that would point toward His coming.
📖 Luke 21:11 states:
“There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences… and fearful events.”
Earthquakes, Famine, and Global Uncertainty
Our modern world sees natural disasters on a scale never before documented — massive earthquakes, destructive wildfires, global pandemics, and rising concerns about climate shifts. While disasters have always existed, Scripture suggests their intensification signals the nearing full fillment of God’s plan.
4. Persecution of Believers
Persecution has always marked the Christian journey, but in the end times, Jesus said it would rise sharply.
📖 Matthew 24:9 warns:
“You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”
The Global Reality of Christian Persecution
Reports of imprisoned pastors, restricted worship, and violent attacks against Christians continue to emerge worldwide. According to Open Doors USA, thousands of believers suffer persecution for their faith every year.
5. The Gospel Reaching All Nations
Despite the challenges, Jesus promised that His message would spread across the globe before His return.
📖 Matthew 24:14 declares:
“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Technology and Mission Work Expanding the Gospel
Today, digital platforms, Bible translation efforts, and missionary work are making the Gospel accessible in places once thought unreachable. Organizations like the Joshua Project highlight how many people groups have yet to be reached — but progress continues at a rapid pace.
6. A Surge in Wickedness and Lawlessness
The Apostle Paul described the “last days” as times of moral decline and rebellion against God.
📖 2 Timothy 3:1–4 says:
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive… without self-control, not lovers of the good.”
A Culture of Self and Rebellion
In today’s culture, values often glorify self-interest, greed, and disregard for God’s standards. Entertainment, politics, and social systems reflect growing moral confusion. While humanity has always wrestled with sin, the rapid embrace of lawlessness and moral relativism highlights Paul’s prophetic words.
7. The Rise of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation
Perhaps the most dramatic sign concerns a final figure of opposition — often called the Antichrist.
📖 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 describes him as:
“The man of lawlessness… who opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God.”
A Time of Great Distress
This aligns with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:21:
“For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now.”
The Antichrist’s rule will usher in a period of deception, suffering, and persecution — known as the Great Tribulation. Yet even in this darkest time, Christians hold fast to the promise that Christ will return in victory, defeating evil once and for all.
A Worldwide Cry for Peace and Security
After outlining these seven signs, Scripture also mentions a striking attitude that will dominate the world before Christ’s return — the pursuit of peace apart from God.
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:3 warns:
“While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
The Illusion of Stability Without God
In our era, governments, organizations, and leaders often promote peace agreements and global unity. Yet without God at the centre, these promises remain fragile. The Bible teaches that a false sense of security will dominate the world — right before sudden upheaval occurs, setting the stage for Christ’s return.
