The document discusses signs that we are living in the "last days" before Jesus' return. It summarizes Matthew 24 and notes three characteristics of the last days: great deception through false prophets (Matthew 24:4-5, 11), political unrest and wars between nations (Matthew 24:6-7), and natural disasters like famines, pestilences, and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7). It provides examples for each characteristic occurring in recent history and argues this establishes the beginning of the end times leading up to Christ's second coming.

1. The Course of This Present Age Rev. Bill Coble, M.Div. 2009

2. Probably…the most popular question is… Are we at the end? Economic Turmoil Religious Factions Political Unrest Increased Violence Natural Disasters

3. The Truth Is… We are! Jesus calls it the Beginning of Sorrows in Matthew 24. Paul calls it perilous times in 2 Timothy 3:1 Whatever you want to call it… We are in the Last Days!

4. Dr. George Voorhis in His Book “Notes on Revelation” Gives a Model on this based on Matthew 24 as the Ground Work for Revelation These Last Days are Characterized by: Great Deception- Matthew 24:4-5 Political Unrest and War- Matthew 24:6 Upheavals in Nature- Matthew 24:7 From Notes on Revelation, Dr. George D. Voorhis, Charlotte, 1988

5. I. GREAT DECEPTION Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

6. False Christ People who claimed to be Jesus

7. Cornishman He claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and his body temple of the Holy Ghost. He was killed by British soldiers at the Battle of Bossenden Wood, on May 31, 1838 in Kent, England. Source: Wikipedia

8. Jim Jones Jim Jones Claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Akhenaten, Buddha, Lenin, and Father Divine. Source: Wikipedia

9. Marshall Applewhite Marshall Applewhite posted a famous Usenet message declaiming, "I, Jesus—Son of God—acknowledge on this date of September 25/26, 1995: …". This was two years before he and his Heaven's Gate cult committed suicide to rendezvous with a spaceship hiding behind the comet Hale-Bopp. Source: Wikipedia

10. Suma ChingHai Suma ChingHai claims to be an incarnation of Avalokitesvara and a living reincarnation of the Buddha and Jesus Christ. Source: Wikipedia

11. David Koresh In 1992, David Koresh of the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco Texas, changed the name of their compound from Mt. Carmel to Ranch Apocalypse. 76 members perished with his claim of Messiah-ship. www.preteristarchive.com- The Big List of False Prophets and Their Prophecies

12. False Prophets Something to Think About

13. 1970’s-1980’s 1970-Moses David formally David Berg proclaimed a comet would hit earth in mid 1970’s. 1983- Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh prophecied that New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles would disappear in 1993. 1986- Moses David once again made a prophecy that the battle of Armageddon would take place in 1986, and Christ would return to earth in 1993. www.preteristarchive.com- The Big List of False Prophets and Their Prophecies

14. 1990’s 1992- David Koresh 1996- A disaster in the Pacific Ocean predicted in the book of “Return of Jupiter”. James Ussher- Christ would come back in the fall of 1996. 1998- Centro an organization in the Philippines predicted the end of the World in 1998.

15. But Jesus Said.. Matthew 24:44 - Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Mark 13:35-36 - Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: [36] Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. Matthew 24:42 - Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

16. Political Unrest and War Matthew 24:6-7 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:…

17. Wars We have been involved in 13 major conflicts in America alone.- Department of Veterans Affairs- PDF Document Israel fought wars after becoming a nation. In fact, they battled in 4 wars nearly immediately.- Voorhis- Revelation Notes- p. 92-93. To add to this they are presently still active with their enemies Hamaas.

18. Rumors of Wars Netanyahu: U.S. Must Stop Iran or We Will-Thursday, April 2, 2009 12:06 PM.- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting President Barack Obama and the world on notice: if nothing is done to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program, Israel will be forced to launch a unilateral attack to destroy it. – www.Newsmax.com

19. Rumors of Wars Iran: President Says Israel Should Be 'Wiped Off Map' October 27, 2005-Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's call for Israel to be "wiped off the map" has triggered a sharp international response and widespread condemnation. Ahmadinejad made the comments yesterday at a conference in Tehran entitled "The World without Zionism."

20. Rumors of Wars North Korea, rejecting international criticism, launched a rocket late Saturday night in what could be a step toward putting a nuclear warhead on a missile capable of reaching the U.S. and beyond.- Fox News.com April 5, 2009

21. Political Unrest Riot police storm G20 protesters' squats ... as violence spreads to France-Riot police yesterday raided two London squats which they believe were used as bases by the anarchist leaders of the violent G20 protests and the ransacking of the Royal Bank of Scotland building. In a major show of force, at least 80 people were led out of the buildings in Earl Street, near Liverpool Street Station, and Rampart Street, Aldgate, and made to sit in the street outside as police sought to identify those involved in the violence 24 hours earlier. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1166349/Riot-police-storm-G20-protesters-squats---violence-spreads-France.html

22. Political Unrest ISLAM Since 9/11- 34,000 Americans have converted to Islam 21% of the World in 2005 is Muslim. New Statistics are showing Islam is now the religion of choice in one in five Americans Radical Islam has contributed to some of the biggest political unrest in our world. 9/11 Afghanistan Iraq Iran Palestine

23. Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

24. Poverty-Famine 15 Million Children a year die from hunger. In the 1990’s it was estimated that over 100 million children died from starvation and illness. In 1994- The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. records that 1 out of 6 elderly are malnourished. 1 out of 8 children go to bed hungry in America each night.- www.library.thinkquest.org- This is world hunger statistics.

25. Poverty-Famine North Carolina 2000-2002 Income decreased by 4.4 percent 12.9% of our state suffers from hunger. Cherokee County NC has 4 or more food banks and an unemployment rate of 17.9% Graham County has 27% unemployment rate.

26. Pestilences Leading Cause of Death in United States Heart Disease 652,091 Cancer 559,312 Stroke 143,579 Respiratory Disease 130,933 Accidents 117,809 Diabetes 75,119 Alzheimer’s Disease 71,599 Influenza/Pneumonia 63,001 Nephritis 43,901 Septicemia 34,136 www.CDC.gov

27. Earthquakes United States Geological Survey Several Million Earthquakes a Year. 50 Earthquakes a day on average in the world. www.neic.usgs.gov

28. Earthquakes The earliest North Carolina earthquake on record is that of March 8, 1735, near Bath. This event was probably less than intensity V. On February 21, 1774, a sharp shock was felt over much of Virginia and southward into North Carolina. Reports from Winston-Salem indicate that this earthquake was felt quite noticeably. Earthquakes have hit North Carolina in 2006-2009 at least once a year. North Carolina

29. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? “THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS”

30. IT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE TRIBULATION! Matthew 24:4-14 False Christs v.4-5 Wars and Rumors of Wars v.6-7 Famines and Earthquakes v.24:7b Famines and Plagues v.7 Persecution and Martyrs v.9-19 Terrors and Great Cosmic Signs Luke 21:11 Worldwide Preaching of the Gospel v.14 Revelation 6-7 Rider on White horse v.1-2 Rider on Red Horse v.3-4 Rider on Black Horse v.5-6 Rider on Pale Horse v.7-8 Martyrs v.9-11 Terror v.12-17 144,000 and their ministry. 7:1-8

31. It Lays the Foundation for the Holy Spirit’s Work Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Rev. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

32. It Lays the Foundation for the Church Matthew 24 Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Matthew 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, Matthew 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Revelation 2-3 Rev. 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

33. It Lays the Foundation for the Return of Jesus Christ Matthew 24 Matthew 24:30-31 -And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:44 -Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Revelation 1:7 and 19 Rev. 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 19:11-16

34. The First Time vs. The Second Time First Time He rode on a donkey. He wore a crown of thorns. He was mockingly called king. He fled from kings. He rejected the kingdoms of this world. Second Time He will be Riding on a White Horse. He will be wearing a Crown of Gold. He will be called King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Kings will flee from Him. He accepts the kingdoms of this world.

35. HE IS COMING AGAIN! Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.