The question is often asked, "Are we in the end times, and how can we predict what will happen in the next few years?"  

As world events become increasingly traumatic, there is bound to be a great deal of interest in prophecy. There are some dangerous temptations in the study of prophecy. Some teachers and writers go far beyond the boundaries of common sense. There have already been many wild and irresponsible claims made by prophecy teachers, and there certainly will be many more errors taught during this time. The effect of this will be to mislead many and to discourage many others from study of this important aspect of our current times.

I personally believe it is futile to attempt to set dates and predict specific world events.  Many have attempted to make specific predictions, and have in fact done more damage than good by by date-setting.  It is no wonder that Jesus told us we can not know the date of His return. It just leads to disappointment, and results in discrediting the people who set wrong dates.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father". Matthew 24:36 (NIV)

Instead, I believe we are told to be constantly watchful and aware of situations as they arise.  We are told to be in a state of general preparedness, instead of trying to predict exact dates.

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him". Matthew 24:42-44(NIV)

So, I believe that familiarizing yourself with end-times prophecy, and keeping an eye on current world events from that perspective, is a directive from Jesus Himself.

Another commonly asked question is "Who is the Anti-Christ?" 

Again, I do not believe that it is possible to predict who Antichrist will be. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, he will not be revealed until the Holy Spirit, the Restrainer, has been taken away, presumably by the Rapture.

Instead of knowing who he is, we are taught to constantly test every spirit to see whether they are "for real".
 

Suggested Links

• Rapture Ready - The Rapture Index monitors 45 categories of various indicators prophesized in the Bible. The categories are ranked one to five based on whether they are rising or falling and include: earthquakes, mark of the beast technology, and date setting.

• Bible Prophecy Warnings - Several cautions are in order for those who wish to know the truth but do not want to not be misled by false teachers.

• Why Study End Times Prophecy

• Google's Prophecy Directory

• Avoiding the Great Deception - Why such prophecies are important, basics of studying, defining and comparing views, and the dangers of misinterpretation.

• The Facts About Nostradamus - Read this article before you take any of Nostradamus' predictions too seriously.

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