todays Events Foretold

The Bible tells us centuries in advance of events that will surely indicate that we are living in the ‘last days‘ and defines a time when God’s Kingdom will bring lasting peace and happiness on earth.

“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever.” (Daniel 2.44)

In the Lord’s Prayer (aka Our Father), Jesus taught his disciples to ask for that rule to come and for God’s will to be done on earth.

“Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place as in heaven, also on earth.” (Matthew 6.10)

Later, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave a detailed prophecy about the events and conditions that would come just before God’s kingdom takes action. Taken together, these would form a clear sign for honesthearted people who pay attention.

International Wars

Jesus said that conflict would spread across nations and governments.

“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.” (Matthew 24.7)

Before 1914, many wars stayed within one region. World War I changed that pattern. It drew in large parts of the world and pushed the development of weapons that caused far greater harm than before. For example, aircraft were used to drop bombs on civilians. In addition, mass production of weapons drove casualties to shocking levels. Of the roughly 65 million troops mobilised, about half were killed or wounded.

As the 20th century moved on, the death toll grew again. World War II brought losses on a scale that historians struggle to count. Since then, wars have not stopped. Instead, conflict continues in many places.

Widespread Hunger

Jesus also warned that many would face food shortages.

“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.” (Matthew 24.7)

In 2005, Science magazine reported that 854 million people, about 14% of the world’s population, were chronically or acutely malnourished. In 2007, a United Nations source said that 33 countries did not have enough food to feed their people.

This can happen even when global grain production increases. One reason is that some land and grain that could feed people is used to produce ethanol. A South African newspaper, The Witness, noted that the grain used to fill a large four-wheel-drive SUV once could feed one person for a full year. At the same time, rising food prices in wealthier countries force some families to choose between dinner and other basics, such as medicine or heating.

Massive Earthquakes

Jesus said that earthquakes would be a major feature of the sign.

“There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and, from heaven, great signs.” (Luke 21.11)

Many people feel that more lives are affected by earthquakes than in the past. In 2007, Indian seismologist R. K. Chadha observed, “Suddenly we are seeing a spurt in seismic activity globally”, and added, “Nobody knows why.” Also, fast population growth in quake-prone areas has raised the human cost.

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and the tsunami that followed caused immense loss of life. The U.S. Geological Survey described 2004 as the “deadliest in nearly 500 years for earthquakes” and “the second most fatal in recorded history”.

Recurring Disease

Jesus foretold that pestilences would spread.

“There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and, from heaven, great signs.” (Luke 21.11)

Across the globe, both old and new diseases affect growing numbers of people. In some cases, treatments and prevention targets fall short. For instance, repeated reductions in efforts to eradicate malaria have been necessary due to the disease’s persistent resistance to control.

Meanwhile, long-standing illnesses still kill millions. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious threat, and it often overlaps with AIDS and other conditions. The World Health Organization reported, “One-third of the world’s population is currently infected with the TB bacillus.” It also noted that HIV is driving TB epidemics in many countries. Every second, someone else becomes infected with TB. At the same time, TB is becoming more resistant to drugs. In 2007, New Scientist reported a case in Europe of TB that was “invulnerable to every single drug we have”.

Moral and Social Breakdown

Jesus also spoke about a steady rise in lawlessness and a drop in love for others.

“And because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold.” (Matthew 24.12)

In addition, the apostle Paul described a broad collapse in morals and social values during the “last days”, just before God’s Kingdom ends this system. He listed attitudes and behaviours that would become common.

“But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, and lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power. And from these turn away.” (2 Timothy 3.1-5)

Jesus and Paul did not list every political, social, and historical cause behind these conditions. Even so, their Bible prophecy matches the events and attitudes many people see today.

The Book of Isaiah, which accurately foretold the coming of the Messiah, also describes the good changes God’s Kingdom will bring to the earth. The next article will consider those promises.