In a recent brief exchange on Facebook over a comment I made about the deteriorating conditions of today's world, the subject of Bible prophecy & the end of days came up. .. One particular comment prompted me to respond with the following ..... In this particular comment, it was stated that  yes, the Lord would come at some point, but that most all generations of the past have also felt that His return was near .. that there has always been serious  calamities facing mankind .. so why is it any different now? .. While the respondent is totally correct in his statement that no one knows the exact time of Jesus' return (Matthew 24:36), what this thinking is missing is the fact that prophecy does tell us that 'we will know the season.' .. Yes, there have been difficult times throughout the history of mankind, but specific prophecies were revealed through God's chosen prophets that would indicate this 'season' of our Lord's triumphant return. ...... In a moment , I will share just a few brief examples of these prophecies ... but first .. why is it that most all churches today are abandoning these prophecies & their teaching? .. Why on earth would today's  Church leaders take away the explanations for the ongoing worldly chaos & therefore the hope that these scriptures gives us as to why? .... I'm glad you asked! .. Simply put, the largely mainline protestant denominations such as the Episcopalians, Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc., tend to view Bible prophecy in much the same way as their predecessor, the Roman Catholic Church - that most all prophecy is already complete & now is 'spiritually' in effect. .. This thinking is called 'preterist,' which means that Bible prophecy concerning the last days was completed in the first century, and that we are now living in the spiritual kingdom .... A few points in this thinking ... 1) The Church has replaced Israel as God's chosen (replacement theology) .. 2) Most all prophecy completed with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 .. 3) The 'Kingdom' is now in effect, & that Christ currently reigns through the Church here on earth (Dominion or Kingdom Now theology) .. Note: Other denominations such as Foursquare, Nazarene, etc have, for the most part, abandoned prophecy teaching. .. Seems the only prophecy-teaching literalists left are the growing number of smaller non-denominational gatherings. ...... Trying not to be too harshly judgmental, in my humble opinion, this falls directly into the 'false teaching' category. .. If one looks at the Bible from a 'literal' position, of which I do, this thinking is complete nonsense. .. The Bible does not support it! .. This 'allegorical,' or non-literal approach is dangerous because it allows any & all to 'adjust' the scriptures to make them 'read' the way one feels best suits their desires! .. Like I've said many times in the past .. I'm not always happy about some of the things the Bible says, because it is difficult for me, but I don't have the option to adjust it! .. Like it or not, I must 'literally follow it! .. OK, Red .. calm down, for heavens sake! .......... Now let me share just a couple of prophetic points that prove beyond all shadow of a doubt as to why these are the final days leading up to our Savior's triumphant return .. things that could NEVER have been possible or weren't in place in those previous generations. .. *Technology - it would increase to the point to where one man could control all buying & selling .. (Revelation 13) .. to where the whole world could view an event in a single location .. (Revelation 11:9-10) ........ Also, the prophet Daniel, in his 12th chapter, talked about the increase of knowledge in these last days. .. *All the world would come under a one-religious system (Revelation 13, 17) .. If we are paying any attention at all, the world's religions (except for us radicals) are wooing one another more & more *Nations would align themselves in certain geopolitical/economic/military alliances .. (Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 11, revelation 16) .. One great example of this is the Magog, Persia & Gomer alignment today (Russia, Iran, Turkey) .. NEVER have these particular nations been associated in any way, until now! .. There's more, such as the EU, but for time ...... *Religiously & socially, the world would continue to deteriorate .. (2 Timothy 3, 2 Peter 3, Rev. 3) .. *Wars & rumors of wars, pestilences, earthquakes, strife, false messiahs & teachers (birth pains) (Matthew 24, Mark 13, & Luke 21 - these are Christ's own specific warnings as to the 'season') .. *Israel - This is the BIG ONE .. Simply, Israel, God's chosen people, are the prophetic time clock, the primary catalyst as to 'the things to watch for.' .. Just two points to see for now are these .. -Israel is back in her land (some of it) as a nation again .. (Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 36, Amos 9, & Luke 21:24) .. Simply, this has NEVER previously happened where a nation existed, then ceased to exist, then came back into existence! .. -The whole world would come against Israel .. (Zechariah 10, 12 & 14 as examples) .. Think this isn't true? .. Just follow even a few minutes of the United Nations rhetoric & one would think she is the ONLY nation on this earth! .. Anyway, you get the point. .. And there are many, many more 'last-day' prophetic signs I could share with you to prove that , yes, we are living in the final moments of the Church Age & that Jesus Christ IS coming back very, very soon! .. In my opinion, all I can say is ...... Hallelujah! OK .. Enough for now. .. Thanks to all of you who put up with me. ... I know that we are increasingly becoming the minority in this thinking &, by the way, that, too, is prophetic! .. I'm shocked (but not really). ...... Love you all & am praying for you constantly. .. Stay strong in these increasingly difficult days, and NEVER forget that the Lord promises to deliver us from all this chaos. .. Hallelujah! .. Until next time, Red