Jesus' Prophesies

JESUS foretold that the following events would happen before his return

in Matthew chapter 24

1. False Messiahs, and False Prophets will Arise

verse 5, "For many will come claiming to be the Messiah, and will lead many astray". verse 11, "And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray". This is another sign pointing towards the Second Coming of Jesus.

2. Wars and Rumours of Wars

verse 6-7, "And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other...". This is also another sign pointing towards the Second Coming of Jesus.

One can see from the following table the frequency of wars increasing as the years go by, just as Jesus had foretold. Following data is obtained from HistoryGuy.com

Period   	      Wars & conflicts    	           
1~1000 (1000 yrs)   Roman Empire Wars 27bc - 476
                    Byzantine Empire Wars 395 - 1453
                    Muslim Conquests 624 - 982
                    Charlemagne, Conquests of 773 - 796
                    German States, Wars of the 891 - 1789

1001~1500 (500 yrs) Byzantine Empire Wars 395 - 1453
                    Norman Conquest of England 1066
                    Crusades 1096 - 1254
                    English-French Wars 1194 - 1337
                    Mongol Wars 1214 - 1402
                    English Scottish Wars 1314
                    Hundred Years War 1337 - 1453
                    Wars of the Roses 1455 - 1487
                    Spanish-Muslim Wars 1481 - 1492

1501~1900 (400 yrs) Venetian-Turkish Wars 1416 - 1573
                    Spanish Conquest of Mexico 1519 - 1521
                    Mogul-Afghan War 1526
                    Spanish Conquest of Peru 1531 - 1533
                    English Spanish Wars 1588
                    Thirty Years' War 1618 - 1648
                    English Civil Wars 1642 - 1651
                    Spanish-French Wars 1648 - 1659
                    Jacobite Rebellions 1689 - 1745
                    Great Northern War 1700 - 1721
                    Spanish Succession, War of the 1701 - 1714
                    French and Indian War 1754 - 1763
                    Seven Years' War 1756 - 1763
                    American Revolution 1775 - 1783
                    French Revolutionary Wars 1792 - 1802
                    Napoleonic Wars 1803 - 1814
                    Indian Wars in United States 1811 - 1887
                    War of 1812 1812 - 1815
                    Peruvian War of Independence 1824
                    Texan War of Independence 1836
                    Afghan-British War, First 1839 - 1842
                    Mexican War 1846 - 1847
                    American Civil War 1861 - 1865
                    Seven Weeks' War 1866
                    Franco-Prussian War 1870 - 1871
                    Afghan-British War, Second 1878 - 1880
                    Zulu-British War 1879
                    Sudan, War for the 1881 - 1899
                    Spanish-American War 1898
                    Boer War, Second 1899 - 1902

1901~2000 (100 yrs) Russo-Japanese War 1904 - 1905
                    World War I 1914 - 1918
                    Turkish War of Independence 1919 - 1923
                    Afghan-British War, Third 1919
                    World War II 1939 - 1945
                    French Indochina War 1946 - 1954
                    Arab-Israeli War 1948 - 1949
                    Korean War 1950 - 1953
                    Hungarian Uprising 1956
                    Vietnam War 1965 - 1975
                    Six-Day War 1967
                    October War 1973
                    Iraq War 1980 - 1988
                    Persian Gulf War 1991

Casualties are also mounting due to the sophisticated weapons used in modern warfare. One can read this from the daily newspapers. Many conflicts are still being fought around the world and new ones are waged. There are nations making hasty preparations for war against one another too.

3. Famines

verse 7, "... and there will be famines...". This is now happening in many countries around the world, for example, North Korea, some countries in Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq and many more. And the numbers are increasing each year according to newspaper reports. Read the Straits Times report on page 14 of Feb 8, 2002, "World expected to be hit by drought and flood... The return of El Nino whose full force will be felt in the coming months."

4. Earthquakes

verse 7-8, "There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will only the beginning of the horrors to come". As for the earthquakes the number and intensity increases as the years go by, just as Jesus had prophesied. The following information is obtained from: National Earthquake Information Center

See the following chart:

5. You will be Arrested, Persecuted and Killed

verse 9, "Then you (the followers of Jesus) will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to Me".

One should not be surprised when this happens because Jesus had already warned us. He said, Matthew 5:11-12, "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too" .

Again He said in, John 15:10, "Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you". John 16:2, "..and indeed the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service". These persecutions will intensify as we approach the Second Coming of Jesus.

6. Many will Turn Away from Christ, Betray and Hate Each Other

verse 10, "And many will turn away from me, betray and hate each other". When the persecution becomes intense, the tendency is to deny that we belong to Jesus and thus betray and hate other Christians to find favor with our persecutors. This is another sign pointing to the Second Coming of Jesus.

7. Disobedience to God will be Widespread

verses 12,13, "Sin (Doing things that are displeasing to God), will be rampant everywhere and love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved". Revelation 22:11 "...vile will become more vile; good men will be better; those who are holy will continue on in greater holiness".

8. The Message of Jesus will be Preached Throughout the World

verse 14 "And the Good News about the Kingdom of God will be preached throughout the world, so that all nations will hear it... and then finally, the end will come".

Summary

In summary, what Jesus foretold is already happening in many parts of the world today. He told His disciples,

"I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe Me" (John 14:29).