This may very well be the number one question on most Cristian’s minds these days. A quick check of You Tube videos would confirm a growing speculation on the imminent return of Jesus Christ foretold in Scripture. Unfortunately, there is also a growing speculation on the date of his return as well. I like the one that predicts that Jesus will return in June making all believers June brides. (the bride of Christ) Others claim it has to be on a Jewish holiday, still others are counting out 1335 days which they claim will end in September and that is when Jesus will return. Along with the speculation are the those who claim to have been given special dreams and spiritual insight as to details surrounding his return. I thought all the information that God wanted us to know was in the Bible. I guess He forgot to include some important details and has given some people additional information to share with the rest of us. Along with the heightened interest is all the concern over the military skirmishes taking place in Israel. Again, You Tubers are there to let us know that Gog and Magog are now moving against Israel and prophecy is definitely unfolding before our very eyes. Sorry, wrong again. Others claim that we are in the Tribulation and that Jesus will come to end the earth and judge all humanity and that is the end. (Sorry, wrong again!)

Just so you will understand my viewpoint, let me just say that I have been a Christian for over 50 years and have been around since Hal Lindsey wrote the book, The Late, Great, Planet Earth which started all this interest in the return of Jesus in the first place. I can truly say that I have heard it all and seen it all and lived through all the prophecy claims, date setting, dire warnings and concerns that what is happening is the unfolding of certain prophecies and that Jesus himself is just behind the clouds about to make an appearance. For the record, I believe that Jesus is going to return at the Rapture and that event is, indeed, close, but I do not need all the super hype to let me know that. the Scripture has already made that plain enough. And just to let you know, I have lived the last 50 years expecting that any day, Jesus will appear at the Rapture and begin the final countdown to Armageddon.

So, in practical terms, how close might we be to the events outlined in Scripture? I would like to point to one over riding thing mentioned in Revelation that might help us consider that the end of this age is approaching. I would point to the closed economic system that the antichrist will use to control all the people on the face of the earth. I know people get really wound up tight when you mention “the mark of the beast” but if we distill that down to what it really is, you will see that it is economic control by means of a closed system. You are either in and can survive or you are out, and you will not survive. With all the economic upheaval we are facing, we could very well be on the cusp of our government moving to the beginnings of that closed system, i.e., the implementation of a digital wallet and digital currency. But wait….do not panic, it is not on a global level…yet.  Therefore, in all likely hood, we may see the beginning of the system that the antichrist will use to enslave humanity. There is a second thing to consider, that is the rise of a popular figure that would unite people in support of a global government. Right now, in the USA, there is a deep divide over what our government should be doing and how it should be run. There is no one in sight that can unite the people to follow their leadership. So, I would say, that things are still brewing, and we may get to see a few more horrifying changes to this world before the Rapture which may cause us to watch more intently for the return of our savior.