Nearly every generation since the advent of Jesus in the 1st century expected the predicted End Times to be upon them. That includes during the horrors of WW1 and WW2, and also the nuclear threat of the Cold War. Even the early Adventists predicted Christ’s return in 1844, and had to invent a brand new theology to fit their disappointment.
What about our own days? Throughout the many trials and tribulations for the two millennia since the days of Jesus in Israel, only one prophesied event had not yet been fulfilled: the seemingly impossible and unexpected return of the Jewish people to the ancient Land of Israel. When the horrid reality of the slaughter of millions of Jews in Europe came to light at the time of my birth, the possibility of that happening seemed even more impossible. Then, in 1948 when the State of Israel was declared and five Arab armies attacked the fledgling state, it seemed remote that it would survive at all. But survive it did.
Jews streamed back to the Promised Land in droves from every nation under the sun, as prophesied by the Biblical Prophets. The tribes of Israel had been regathered to their ancient birthplace. And now, 75 years later and miraculously prevailing in many wars of annihilation, the Jewish nation has become a powerful force on the world stage. And yet the constant threats of annihilation continue to this day.
This is the land where Jesus the Jew was born, lived, died, was resurrected, and has pledged to return, just as this land itself was raised from death and desolation, along with its ancient language of Hebrew. The name of Yeshua cannot be removed from the Land of Israel.
At the same time we are beholding previously undreamed-of events around our planet, not only in the great feats of technology and marvellous new forms of weaponry, but in the rejection and scrapping of the basic morality that had formed modern civilization, most that had arisen directly or indirectly from the Biblical texts written by the Jews. We are witnessing a great falling away from Biblical belief, both in populations and in the churches themselves. Thus chaos and discontent and anarchy are threatening the fabric and foundation of civilization, families, and the very genders and identity of the human being.
Along with this we are seeing uncontrolled plagues moving swiftly around the globe as never before, and what is called ‘global warming,’ droughts and famine increasing, along with vast pollution and the decline of fish populations in our oceans- all which are predicted in the Biblical texts. And the fear of nuclear war has not decreased since its first use in WW2 at the time of my birth. All this in one generation.
The great world powers on this tiny and lovely planet are increasingly facing off in confrontation and threats of wars and rumors of wars. The young generation is aware of all this, and can feel the breakdown of trust fearfully in their sinews as they turn increasingly to drugs, hedonism, and hopelessness for their future.
Are we indeed entering the End Times, which are described by Yeshua as “like the days of Noah”? Only time will tell.
