This post comes from the sermon I preached this past Sunday at Jonesboro Christian Fellowship. The message was titled Ready or Not… Here I Come… and it focused on what the Bible says about the return of Christ and the end times. For the blog, I want to step back and take a more informative look at the subject. The goal here is not to stir fear or repeat what was said in the pulpit, but to lay out why these things matter and how they connect to what’s happening in the world today.
When people hear “end times,” reactions usually fall into two extremes. Some think of fiery preaching, terrifying images of beasts and dragons, and charts that map out every possible event. Others roll their eyes, because they’ve heard too many failed predictions and date-setters who declared, “This is it!” only to be proven wrong. Both responses miss the point.
Biblical prophecy is not about scaring people into panic or setting dates that God has not given us. It’s about clarity. It’s about seeing the faithfulness of God in history and trusting Him for the future. It’s about knowing where the story is headed and living in light of that truth.
Why Israel Matters
When you read through the Bible, Israel is never treated like an ordinary nation. From Abraham’s covenant in Genesis 12, where God promised to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse it, to Revelation where the tribes of Israel appear again as part of God’s plan, Israel is at the center of the story.
In 1948, the rebirth of Israel was one of the most significant prophetic events of modern history. For nearly two thousand years, the Jewish people had been scattered across the globe. They had no homeland, no central government, and no temple. Yet the prophets had said that God would regather them. Ezekiel 36:24 says, “For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.” That promise was fulfilled when Israel became a nation in a single day. Isaiah 66:8 asked, “Has a nation ever been born in a single day?” The answer came in our own time: yes, Israel was.
Since then, Israel’s survival has defied logic. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel was surrounded by enemies on every side, yet they gained control of Jerusalem and secured a victory that military strategists still struggle to explain. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, Israel once again faced overwhelming odds, and once again survived. The pattern is unmistakable. Israel is not sustained by political strength alone. Israel is preserved because God said it would be preserved.
And prophecy still points to Israel’s future role. Zechariah 12:3 says, “On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves.” Look at today’s headlines. Jerusalem is still at the center of global conflict, still a stumbling block to peace agreements, still the focus of debate in the United Nations. The world cannot ignore it because God has declared it will remain the center until Christ Himself returns.
Even in Revelation, Israel is present. In chapter 7, 144,000 from the tribes of Israel are sealed by God during the tribulation. In chapter 14, those same 144,000 stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb. Paul also points to Israel’s redemption in Romans 11:26, saying, “And so all Israel will be saved.” The covenant is not broken. The promises are not forgotten. Israel remains the prophetic clock that tells us how close we are to the final act of God’s plan.
The Signs of the Times
Jesus gave His disciples a detailed description of the signs that would mark the approach of His return. In Matthew 24 He spoke of wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famines, earthquakes, persecution, false prophets, and lawlessness. He compared these things to the beginning of birth pains. That phrase is important. Birth pains start small but grow in frequency and intensity until the child is delivered. In the same way, the signs of the end times will intensify as history approaches its climax.
Daniel 12:4 adds another layer. It says that in the time of the end, “many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” Consider what we have seen in the last century. For most of history, travel was limited to walking, horses, and ships. In just over a hundred years, humanity went from riding animals to flying planes, rockets, and satellites. Global travel has become normal. At the same time, knowledge has exploded. Technology now advances so quickly that a phone can be outdated in a year. Artificial intelligence, digital communication, and instant access to information are daily realities. Daniel’s words could not describe our era more clearly.
Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3 also resonate with our times. He said the last days would be marked by selfishness, pride, disobedience, a lack of love, and a rejection of truth. We live in an age where moral standards shift constantly. What was once called wrong is now celebrated. What was once honored is now mocked. The love of many has grown cold, just as Jesus said it would.
Another sign Jesus gave in Matthew 24:14 was the preaching of the gospel to all nations. Today, the gospel is being spread faster than ever before. Through digital platforms, livestreams, apps, and social media, people in remote areas can hear the name of Jesus. The Word of God is reaching places missionaries once could not go. Prophecy is being fulfilled as technology is being redeemed for the spread of truth.
Taken together, these signs are not isolated events. They are converging realities. Wars, disasters, moral collapse, the spread of the gospel, and the rebirth of Israel all point to one conclusion: history is moving toward the return of Christ.
What About the Reckoning
The book of Revelation gives the most vivid description of what is still ahead. It speaks of a time of tribulation when seals, trumpets, and bowls of judgment will be released. Revelation 13 introduces a beast who rises with the power of Satan, known as the Antichrist. He will deceive the nations and be worshiped by those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It will be a time of intense persecution and suffering.
Yet Revelation is not meant to glorify the Antichrist or dwell on the power of the dragon. Its focus is the triumph of Jesus Christ. Revelation 20 describes Satan bound for a thousand years. Revelation 21 describes a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells with His people and wipes every tear from their eyes. The final picture of prophecy is not destruction, but redemption.
For those who belong to Christ, this truth changes everything. Prophecy is not written to scare us into despair. It is written to prepare us with hope. It assures us that evil does not get the last word. The beast does not win. The dragon does not win. The kingdoms of this world do not win. The Lamb wins.
The reckoning means judgment for those who reject Christ, but it also means vindication and eternal life for those who belong to Him. It is the dividing line between those who followed their own way and those who followed the Shepherd’s voice. And for the believer, it is the day when faith becomes sight and every promise of God is fulfilled.
Takeaways
- The first takeaway is to keep your eyes on Israel. For believers, watching Israel is not about politics, it is about prophecy. Every time Israel is in the headlines, it is a reminder that God’s Word is being fulfilled in front of us. The rebirth of Israel in 1948, the capture of Jerusalem in 1967, and the ongoing tension surrounding that city are not random events. They are signs that God’s clock is moving forward. When you pray for Israel and when you follow events in the Middle East, do so with an awareness that you are watching Scripture unfold.
- The second takeaway is to stay grounded in Scripture. There are plenty of voices in the world that twist prophecy or sensationalize it. If you are not careful, you can be distracted by fear or pulled into speculation that does not honor Christ. The way to avoid that is to stay rooted in the Word of God. Prophecy was given to prepare us, not to terrify us. The more familiar you are with Scripture, the more clearly you will recognize what is true and what is not. God’s Word is the anchor that keeps us steady when the world is shaking.
- The third takeaway is to live with urgency. Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour of His return, but He also said to be ready. Urgency does not mean panic. It means living with purpose. It means using the time you have to share the gospel, to serve others, and to live faithfully. The signs of the times remind us that life is not endless. Every day matters. Living with urgency is not about cramming in fear-driven activity, but about walking daily with Jesus in a way that honors Him and impacts others.
- The final takeaway is to hold to hope. Revelation is often seen as a book of catastrophe, but its ultimate message is one of victory. The Lamb wins. Evil is defeated. God makes all things new. For believers, that is the foundation of our hope. We do not look at prophecy with dread, but with anticipation. Every fulfilled promise in the past assures us that God will keep His promises for the future. No matter how dark the world may seem, the end of the story is not despair but redemption. That is what keeps us steady and gives us courage to keep going.
Prophecy is not a puzzle for us to obsess over or a horror story to make us afraid. It is God’s way of saying, “I keep My Word, and I will finish what I started.” The signs are not meant to paralyze us, but to push us to live with grit and faith. Israel reminds us that God’s promises never fail. The signs of the times remind us that history is headed exactly where God said it would. And the reckoning reminds us that the Lamb wins. Ready or not, He is coming. Our job is simple: live ready, stay steady, and keep our eyes on Jesus.
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