Scripture
1. Matthew 24:14–15 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand.”
2. Revelation 17:18–18:2 “…the great city that rules over the kings of the earth… ‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’…”
3. Matthew 24:37 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
In the opening section of Matthew 24, the disciples posed a question to the Lord: “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” This question contains three aspects:
1. When will these things happen?
2. What will be the sign of Your coming?
3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?
The Lord Jesus answered the disciples’ questions in Matthew 23:32 through chapter 25. Some information regarding the rapture is available there for your reference.
The phrase “end of the world” in some translations is literally “end of the age” in the original text. Therefore, the content that follows will use “end of the age” rather than “end of the world.” The articles in this section address only the question of “what will be the signs of the end of the age,” and only in a limited way. The focus will be on a small portion of what belongs to “the end of the age” — primarily covering the three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, and the events on earth during that period. It is my sincere hope that this may offer some clues for those who are already watchful, helping them trace the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. The return of the Lord Jesus is our hope — may the Lord come quickly!
The three and a half years of the Great Tribulation begin with Satan being cast down to the earth:
“Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelation 12:12)
The Satan cast down to earth releases the Antichrist and the false prophet:
“The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss… And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth… They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon.” (Revelation 9:1–11)
“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads… The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.” (Revelation 13:1–2)
“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” (Revelation 13:11)
The Antichrist stands in the temple and declares himself to be God:
“…and on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation…” (Daniel 9:27)
“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.” (Daniel 11:31)
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand.” (Matthew 24:15)
“…before that day comes, there will be a rebellion, and the man of lawlessness will be revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4)
Through the unfolding of history, a vast beast system has gradually formed in the world. At the end of the age, this system is led primarily by the “ten horns and seven heads.” Babylon the Great controls and relies upon this system, while the Antichrist, as the head of Babylon the Great, becomes its foremost representative. The state of the whole world is just like the days of Noah.