Matthew 24:4-14
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one decieves you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ' and will decieve many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen. But the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famine and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm until the end will be saved, and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the old world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one decieves you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ' and will decieve many.

We've already seen one major occurance like this a few years ago in Waco, Texas when David Koresh's cult took the media by storm. He decieved hundreds to believe that he was Christ, the messiah. Actually, there are many more who have done similar things and their number have been increasing at an alarming rate. Satan has used his guises to fool many people such as teenagers who are gullible to Satan's work. Now with the influence of drugs,alcohol and the like this makes the matter's even worse, In short Satan does rule this planet. This is proved to us in scripture, when Satan tempted Jesus by saying " bow down and worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen. But the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Wars are being waged all over the world all the time. The media is constantly talking about the Middle East, Europe, and Russia and how war is or will soon be beginning in full force.

There will be famine and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Japan has been undergoing ruthless earthquakes in the past few years. California and many locations in India and China have all gone through quakes as well. In fact, the entire Pacific Ocean is lined with volcanoes just waiting for an earthquake to set them off! People are starving all over the world, especially Africa and India. Remember this the next time you sit down with your family to an evening meal.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me.

Although not as prevalent in North America, in many countries throughout the world, Christians are persecuted, jailed, and even killed for their faith. It might seem hard to believe, but it is truly happening. It's only a matter of time before such behavior spreads to Europe and North America.

"At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

It's painfully obvious how people are turning away from God and His grace. Just take a walk down the street and you'll notice how many people are wearing blasphemous t-shirts or are displaying thier contempt for God in other such ways. No matter how much you seem to try to witness to people, they just shove you away or worse.

but he who stands firm until the end will be saved, and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the old world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

This seems to me and many others that Jesus will not return until all nations have heard the gospel.

The signs of the End Times are being fulfilled before our eyes, yet many people remain blind to the facts. Those of us who believe in the Bible should be glad as we see what's coming, knowing that it won't be long and that we should stand strong in our faith.