This is the Single Greatest Sign of the Second Coming…

Credit: Dovapi

Everywhere we look today, we see violence, hatred, and debauchery of every kind. Cities track the number of murders year-to-date. The local news reports on whether or not the latest body count is a new record. Films and television shows constantly push the envelope, portraying ever increasing violence and sexual immorality of every kind – which is difficult to fathom because they crossed every established line of morality long ago. This is what Paul said the last days will be like. He said:

"For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" 2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NLT)

This is the exact type of behavior we see today. Therefore, it’s no surprise so many people intuitively claim “the end is near.”

It turns out what many people instinctively think is actually true. The end is near. How can I be so sure? Because Jesus and the prophets said specific events will mark the end times. Today, we see those events. The Gospel is being preached to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14)… Travel and knowledge are increasing exponentially (Daniel 12:4)… The Jewish people once again control Jerusalem (Luke 21:24)… And these are only a few of the signs we see. Jesus said:

"So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!" Luke 21:28 (NLT)

This means the convergence of all these signs is the #1 reason to believe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is near.

But among all the individual signs, which one is the greatest? What’s the most important of these signs pointing to the near return of Jesus?

The Regathering of Israel

Without a doubt, I believe the single greatest sign is the regathering of the Jewish people back in the land of Israel. Not only did God promise it would happen in the last days, but the Tribulation itself cannot occur if the nation state of Israel does not exist. Here are just a few end times events requiring the nation of Israel:

The Antichrist’s Covenant

The seven-year Tribulation cannot begin until the Antichrist confirms a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). And how can Israel confirm such a covenant if Israel doesn’t exist? It can’t. This makes the modern day nation of Israel essential to the end times timeline.

The Purpose of the Tribulation

The Bible says God’s primary purpose for the Tribulation is to fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel. According to the Bible, this time period has been decreed for the nation of Israel "to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place" (Daniel 9:24). Before this can happen, Israel must exist.

Jerusalem

Jesus said armies would surround Jerusalem, destroy the city, and enslave its citizens. This happened in A.D. 70 when the Roman legions did exactly that. Jesus then said people other than the Jews would control Jerusalem for a time, then the Jewish people would once again control Jerusalem. Only then will the end times events He described (including His Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation) take place (Luke 21:24-28). This means the Tribulation cannot occur unless the Jewish people control Jerusalem. Since 1967, Israel has been in possession of Jerusalem.

The Gog of Magog War

The Bible says in the last days, when God brings the Jewish people back into the land from the many lands where they’ve been scattered (Ezekiel 38:8), a massive coalition of armies will invade Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). Needless to say, this can’t happen unless Israel exists.

Israel’s “Exceedingly Great” Army

Ezekiel says Israel will have an “exceedingly great army” in the last days (Ezekiel 37:10). God says Israel will be like a fire among sheaves of grain, burning up the neighboring nations (Zechariah 12:6). He says even the weakest soldier among them will be like David (Zechariah 12:8). This has been the case since 1948. But again, how could any of this happen if Israel doesn’t exist?

The Abomination of Desolation

The Bible says, in the middle of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will put an end to the Temple sacrifices and offerings (Daniel 9:27). Then, he will sit in the Temple and proclaim himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This is an act of desecration Jesus calls “the abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15). However, before it can take place, the Jewish Temple must exist. Since the Roman legions destroyed the Temple in A.D. 70, this means a new Temple must be built. For that to happen, it implies the Jewish people are back in the land and in control of Jerusalem.

These are just a few of the events the Bible says will take place in the end times. Yet, how can any of them happen if Israel doesn’t exist? They can’t. They require the Jewish people back in the land of Israel. Without a doubt, Israel plays the lead role in God’s end time plan. Without it, there can be no end times.

Prior to May 14, 1948, this presented a problem. Israel did not exist. In the eyes of the world, Israel was gone forever. But those who understood bible prophecy knew better. They knew God promised to bring the Jewish people back into the land. They knew the Hebrew prophets said over and over again the people of Israel would be brought back into the land in the last days. That’s exactly what happened.

God’s Promise

The entire Bible (and the Old Testament in particular) contain specific and undeniable promises from God to bring His people back into the land of Israel. For example, God promised Moses and the Israelites:

“Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the Lord your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. The Lord your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again.” Deuteronomy 30:4-5 (NLT)

Throughout Israel’s history, one prophet after another repeated this promise. Through them, God promised to bring the Jewish people back into the land despite the hardships they faced (Isaiah 43:1-13). He promised to call them from “the farthest corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12), from “among the nations” (Ezekiel 39:28), and from “north, south, east, and west” (Psalm 107:3). He promised to bring them home and display His holiness to the nations (Ezekiel 20:41-42). He promised to welcome them home from “the lands where they were scattered” (Ezekiel 20:34). He said He would restore them to the land of Israel from distant lands (Jeremiah 30:2-10). And God promised, though scattered among the nations, His people would never forget Him, and He would bring them back into the land of Israel (Zechariah 10:9).

God kept His promise. The modern day nation of Israel is proof.

However, God promised to do more than simply restore the nation of Israel, he said how He would do it. He said Israel will be created in a single day (Isaiah 66:7-8), return as a united nation (Ezekiel 37:22), transform from a desolate wasteland to a lush garden (Ezekiel 36:34-35; Isaiah 51:3), and form “an exceedingly great army” (Ezekiel 37:10). Each and every one of these things happened as well.

When Will All This Happen?

As amazing as these fulfilled prophecies are, what surprises most people is when God said they will be fulfilled. Because the Hebrew prophets directly linked the rebirth of the nation state of Israel with the Second Coming of the Jesus Christ.

Through the prophet Hosea, God said the people of Israel will go a long time without a king, sacrifices, sacred pillars, or priests, then they will return to the land and seek their God and Messiah in the last days (Hosea 3:4-5). The prophet Joel said the armies of the world will gather together for the battle of Armageddon “at the time when God restores Judah and Jerusalem,” bringing His people back from among the nations where they were scattered (Joel 3:1-2). In other words, once God restores the nation of Israel, Armageddon and the end times soon follow.

God promised the Jewish people will return to the land and the desert will bloom (Isaiah 35:1). We’ve already seen this. Then what happens? The Bible says the Lord will return to destroy Israel’s enemies (Isaiah 35:2-4). Through Jeremiah, God promised to gather the remnant of His flock from the nations where he had driven them and bring them back into the land (Jeremiah 23:3-4). Then, He promised to raise up a righteous descendant of King David, a king who will rule the land with wisdom (Jeremiah 23:5-6). This is the long-awaited Messiah, and He will come to rule “when the people are back in the land” (Jeremiah 23:7-8).

Through Isaiah, God promised to restore the nation of Israel and raise its flag among the nations (Isaiah 11:12). When that happens, God says “the wolf and the lamb will lie together” and “leopards will lie down with goats.” Even a baby will play with a cobra and not be bitten! (Isaiah 11:6-9). The heir to David’s throne (Jesus Christ) will rule over the nations, transforming the world into a place of peace and tranquility (Isaiah 11:10). This describes the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ. And when will His Kingdom come? Only after God’s people are re-gathered “from distant lands” and “the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 11:11-12) and after Israel is reborn as a single, unified nation (Isaiah 11:13).

As if all this weren’t enough, Jesus said when the Jewish people return to the land, they’ll regain control over Jerusalem. He said the Gentiles will trample Jerusalem until the times of the Gentiles come to an end. When this happens, He said it’s a sign of His return (Luke 21:24). In 1967, the nation of Israel took control of Jerusalem for the first time in 1,897 years. Coincidence? No. Jesus said the generation that witnesses these events will not pass away before He returns (Luke 21:32).

This year, the modern day nation of Israel celebrated 76 years since its founding. It’s been 57 years since Israel retook control of Jerusalem. How many more years can go by before Jesus returns? It can’t be many.

How can I be so sure? Because Jesus said:

"So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!" Luke 21:28 (NLT)

Right now, we’re witnessing the convergence of the signs Jesus and the prophets said to look for. While we don’t know the day or the hour of the Lord’s return, Jesus did not say, “When all these things begin to happen, stand and look up – maybe I’ll return in a century or two.” Instead, He said His return is very near – “right at the door” (Mark 13:29; Matthew 24:33).

Why It Matters

The regathering of the Jewish people back in the land of Israel is the #1 individual sign of the Second Coming is near. For 1,878 years, Christians could not point to this sign. Today, they can. Think about the miracle this represents. Throughout history, conquered people disappear. They assimilate into surrounding nations. Where are Israel’s ancient neighbors? Where are the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (Deuteronomy 7:1)? They’re lost to history. Yet despite almost 2,000 years without a homeland, the Jewish people continue to thrive. They still retain their unique cultural, religious, and ethnic identity. Despite almost 2,000 years of rampant anti-Semitism, marked by the Spanish Inquisition, Russian pogroms, and the Nazi holocaust, the Jewish people still exist. Now, they’re back in the land of Israel. This is nothing less than a modern miracle. It’s clear evidence for the whole world that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the one true God. It’s also the number one individual sign telling us Jesus is coming soon!

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