末世的征兆
历代以来，很多灵性导师和预言家都曾得到有关未来的特别启示。其中，一个有关未来的最深奥的异象，是在二千年前于耶路撒冷城外一个山坡上发表的。在那里，一小群寻求真理的人环坐在他们的导师—拿撒勒人耶稣身边聆听。他们对他所问的问题，促使他给予一个跨越世代的答案，详细地叙述了你我现在所生活的时代：
“耶稣在橄榄山上坐着，门徒悄悄地问他：‘请告诉我们，您从天降临和世界末日，有什麽预兆呢？’”（马太福音24:3）
耶稣告诉他们，要留心注意许多明确具体的征兆。这里所说的“世界末日”一词，并非指整个地球实际被毁灭，而是说人类在世上非人道的残暴统治之终止。
虽然他所提及的这些“征兆”已在折磨此世界有数千年之久，然而，值得注意的是，近年来这些情形发生之频率及严重程度却在剧烈增加。
“耶稣说：‘你们也要听到打仗和打仗的风声……民要攻打民，国要攻打国。’”（马太福音24:6）
在历史上没有任何一个时期像二十世纪一样频繁地发生战争。据国际红十字会估计，仅在本世纪里就有一亿以上的人死于战争。
自从第二次世界大战以后，世界上已经发生超过150场重要战争、以及数以百计类如武装叛乱、革命性的战役。在第二次世界大战结束以来，由于作战而死的人数已超过二千三百万人之多。（合众社1993年11月10日报导）华盛顿邮报曾报导：“我们二十世纪的战争是‘全面性的战争’，不管是军人或百姓都参与……过去世纪的野蛮战役与之相比，真是小巫见大巫。”（1996年4月22日）
“而且多处必有饥荒…。”(马太福音24:7)
世界银行在1996年末期报告中指出每天饥饿的人数超过八亿，此外，超过五亿的儿童因没有充足的食物而无法得到健全的身心发展。根据世界银行副总裁艾氏眉·赛拉杰汀(Ismail Serageldin)所说：“每天约有四万人的死因与饥饿有关，大部份发生在乡下地区。”（UPI合众国际社1996年9月23日报导）
“那时必有饥荒、瘟疫……”(马太福音24:7)
不到二十年以前，医学界声称已克服了许多致命性的细菌和过滤性病毒。但是今天，这些传染性疾病案件反而在剧增。
合众社报导：“某些无法被现有抗生素消灭的细菌群，对大众健康所造成的威胁可能比爱滋病更甚。以前被人认为已克服了的疾病却在变得无法防止….科学家们预期将有医学界大灾难发生。”（1995年3月26日报导）
联合国联手研究针对HIV/AIDS爱滋病问题的项目计划 UNAIDS，在其1996年12月公布的年底报告中报导，该年出现的新HIV传染病情有三百一十万种。仅在1996年，就有一百五十万人死于爱滋病，使得与爱滋病有关的死亡事件总数增至六百四十万件。在本文被撰写之际，现有HIV/AIDS爱滋病毒感染的人数已超过两千四百万人。换句话说，自从该病在1981年被发现以来，传染到该病的人数已超过三千万。联合国“世界卫生组织”（WHO）说：“世界各地每天感染到HIV病毒的人数超过六千人，而且其感染的情况在变得愈来愈恶劣。”（UPI 1995年11月30日报导）
“多处必有地震……”(马太福音24:7)
世界年鉴告诉我们，在公元1000年至1800年之间，世上只发生过二十一次强烈地震。然而，仅在公元1800年至1900年之间，世上就曾发生十八次大地震。而在接着的五十年，即公元1900年至1950年之间，世上却曾发生过三十三次大地震。在此仅仅五十年之间发生的地震总数，几乎是以前八百五十年内的地震总数！
在1950年至1991 年之间，世上曾发生过九十三次大地震，其地震次数不仅接近前五十年的三倍，并导致世界各地一百三十万人丧生。许多科学家警告世人，我们正在进入一个强烈地震会频繁发生的新时期。
“世界充满了暴力”(创世纪6:11)
耶稣提及就在他重返以前会出现的另一个普遍现象，那就是，世上将充满暴力以致于无法抑制。他说：“挪亚1的日子怎样，人子（第二次）降临以前的日子也要怎样。”（马太福音24:37）
“挪亚的日子”是怎麽样呢？那时，“世界在上帝眼中非常败坏，充满了暴行。”（创世记6:5,11）。今天，世上报纸上的头条新闻，通常是报导有关缺乏理性的暴力所造成的悲惨事件。在美国，每年凶杀及自杀案件的发生率，已经差不多与美国在整个越战中丧生人数相等。单在过去三十年中，自杀及被谋杀受害人总数就已超过一千两百万人，比美国有史以来所有死于战争的总人数更多。
“这天国的福音要传遍天下，对万民作见证，然后末期才来到。”（马太福音24:14）
这个时兆与战争、饥荒、瘟疫、地震发生之频繁度及严重性等时兆不同。耶稣说当这个独特的时兆出现时，那不只是表示“灾难的起头”(马太福音24:8)，祂说当福音传遍天下时，将会是一个末世降临到这个世界的特别兆头。
在整个历史上，从未有一个时期像现在这样，福音被传遍世上所有的国家。如果福音不是直接被传福音者传讲的话，就确定是会通过收音机、电视和电讯系统等现代化媒介所传播。根据“基督徒世界年鉴”(The Almanac of the Christian World)的报导，福音已被传给世界各国四十亿以上的人听。事实上等于是世上所有的国家，”然后末期才来到。”
“必有多人来往奔跑……”（但以理书12:4）
在大约公元前534年，上主告诉他的先知但以理2：“到末时，必有多人来往奔跑，知识就必增长。”(但以理书12:4) 这句“多人来往奔跑”，实际是指“到处高速奔驰”的意思，或如英文“活用圣经”（The Living Bible）把这句经文译成“旅游将会大增”的意思。
当你考虑到数千年以来人类使用的交通工具曾一直无多大变化时，才能清楚地体会到这个预言的重要性。在今日，我们不但能以超高速驾驶汽车，跑极远的路途，一架喷射机还能在二十四小时内环绕地球一周，一艘宇宙飞船则仅需八十分钟就能做到！
今天，旅游的人数比以前任何时候都更多。经济学者告诉我们旅游和观光业是世上最大、且是最蒸蒸日上的企业。（路透社1995年3月13日报导）
“…知识就必增长”（但以理书12:4）
知识的增长已超过我们最大想象力！“超荷信息”此新词语是为我们这一代所创造的。
每天传送于国际网络上的文件其页数相当于三亿多页。所有科学家中百分之八十到目前都还活着，而他们在每分钟增加2,000页之多的科学知识。每隔十年，就有将近一半的医药知识过时了。
计算机科技清楚地说明我们当今知识爆炸的情形。最基本的计算机科技结构—晶体管，于1948年在贝尔实验室被发明出来。据估计在公元2000年，一个计算机芯片将能容纳多于十亿个晶体管之容量。
“敌基督的来临”（约翰一书2:18）
在圣经多数章节中，提及一个在末世重要的、最后的征兆，那就是一个统一性的世界政府之兴起。该政府的领袖是一个邪恶的暴君—被人称为敌基督或“兽”。圣经《启示录》叙述将来世人会崇拜这位由撒旦3附身的残暴世界统治者。
圣经告诉我们，一个别出心裁的七年和平协议或称“和平盟约”将是敌基督得到世界统治权势的关键。这个协议，将使以色列人与阿拉伯人之间达成某种妥协，而暂时解决中东危机。耶路撒冷圣山摩利亚山，即犹太人古时的圣殿和现今回教最神圣的盘古清真寺之所在地，将是其相争之焦点。
但在敌基督订立的盟约生效后三年半，他将撤销该和平协议。那时他将会在耶路撒冷建立他的世界首都，同时将宣布禁止所有宗教，除了崇拜他本人和他那神奇的“像”。这个“像”不但会讲话，而且可以使凡不拜兽像的人都丧生。（请读启示录第13:14-15）耶稣说，那将会是一段大灾难的时期，“从世界的起头，直到如今，没有这样的灾难。”（马太福音24:15,21）
兽印
“他又叫众人，无论大小贫富，自主的为奴的，都在右手上、或是在额上，受一个印记。除了那受印记，有了兽名，或有兽名数目的，都不得作买卖…他的数目是六百六十六”（启示录13:15-18）
这个预言描述一件以前从不可能发生的事情。两千年前，一个单纯的渔夫—耶稣的使徒约翰，曾预言有一天全球性的经济体系将兴起，每个人将被迫接受一个号码，没有此码的人不可以买或卖。只有在今天，计算机作业和电子银行系统越来越高速发展的情况下，这个预言才可能实现。
耶稣的再次降临
“那些日子的灾难一过去…他们要看见人子，有能力、有大荣耀，驾着天上的云降临。他要将他的选民都招聚了来。”（马太福音24:29-31）。
当耶稣二度降临时，世上最恐怖黑暗的时刻将会完结，所有属于他的子民将会有一个神奇的转变，他们会拥有一个全新超自然的身体，而耶稣会把他们从敌基督独裁者的手中拯救出来，并将他们带回到天堂，在那里举行一个壮观无比、前所未有的庆功宴—也就是“羔羊的婚宴”！（启示录14:14,15;19:6-9）
同时，上帝的大怒将降临在敌基督和他邪恶的随众身上。最后，耶稣将再回来，在那场极其可怕的哈米吉多顿之战4中，完全击败和消灭他们的世界独裁帝国。
这将为人类在地上的残酷统治写下休止符，耶稣和他超凡的势力将接管地球，以爱心来统治和管理这个世界，那就是“千禧年”的开始。那时，人人都可享有一千年的和平、丰裕与天堂欢乐。（启示录19:11-21;20:1-4）。
你为面对这些惊天动地的事件作好准备了吗？如果还没有的话，你只须接受耶稣进入你心中，并在人生路途上步步信靠他。他爱你，无论你将来会面临任何险境，他都会和你在一起，并引导你渡过难关的。上帝祝福你！
批注：
1挪亚—古代的一位虔信上帝的人，因服从上帝的吩咐而全家被救，没有被世界性洪水淹没。
2但以理—古代以色列时上帝的一位著名先知，即传达上帝的讯息和圣言的人。上帝曾给予他很多有关末世的启示。
3撒旦–他曾是上帝的天使长之一，因骄傲而反叛上帝，堕落为恶灵之首，被称为魔鬼，又被称为敌人或撒旦。
4哈米吉多顿之战—在世界末日时，邪恶的势力围攻正义的人们，计划在以色列的哈米吉多顿谷全歼他们，结果反而被从天而降的耶稣和众多的基督徒而击败。所有的恶人们都不得幸免。
SIGNS OF THE END
Through the ages a number of spiritual teachers and seers have received special insight into the future. One of the most profound visions of what is to come was given 2,000 years ago on a hillside outside of Jerusalem. A small band of truth-seekers gathered around their Teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. The question they asked Him prompted a response that spans the centuries and zeroes in on the days in which you and I are now living:
“And as He [Jesus] sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him, saying, ‘Tell us, what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?'” (Matthew 24:3).
Jesus answered them with dozens of specific indicators to be on the lookout for. (The term “the end of the world” as used here does not refer to the end of the planet, but the end of the current inhumane reign of man on earth.) Although many of the signs He gave are things that have plagued the world for ages, it’s remarkable how the severity and frequency of these have now increased.
“You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6).
No period in all of history has witnessed the escalation of wars as has the 20th century. The International Red Cross estimates that over 100 million people have been killed in wars since this century began.
Since World War II, there have been over 150 major wars, as well as hundreds more armed rebellions and revolutions. The death toll in armed conflicts since the end of World War II is more than 23 million. The Washington Post declared, “Our 20th-century wars have been ‘total wars’ against combatants and civilians alike. … The barbarian wars of centuries past were alley fights in comparison.”
“And there shall be famines” (Matthew 24:7).The World Bank reported in late 1996 that more than 800 million people are going hungry every day, and more than 500 million children do not get enough food to fully develop mentally and physically. “Some 40,000 hunger-related deaths occur every day, mostly in rural regions,” says bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin.
“And there shall be pestilences” (Matthew 24:7).Less than 20 years ago the medical profession claimed victory over many bacterial and viral killers. But the cases of infectious diseases have now skyrocketed. The Associated Press reports, “The emergence of bacteria strains that cannot be killed by current antibiotics could become a public health threat worse than AIDS. Diseases recently considered conquered are becoming unstoppable. … Scientists expect nothing short of a medical disaster.”
UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, in its year-end report released in December 1996, stated that 3.1 million new HIV infections occurred worldwide that year. One-and-a-half million people died of AIDS in 1996, bringing the total of AIDS-related deaths to 6.4 million. As of this writing, over 24 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, which means that well over 30 million have been infected since the disease was first recognized in 1981. The World Health Organization (WHO) says “around the world more than 6,000 people every day are infected with HIV and the epidemic is getting worse.”
“And there shall be earthquakes, in various places” (Matthew 24:7).The Universal Almanac tells us that there were only 21 earthquakes of major strength between the years 1000 and 1800. But between 1800 and 1900 there were 18 major earthquakes. Between 1900 and 1950, there were 33 major quakes–almost as many as the number in the preceding 1,850 years!
Between 1950 and 1991 there were 93 major earthquakes–almost triple the number of the previous half century–which claimed the lives of 1.3 million people around the world. Numerous scientists warn that we are currently entering a period of great seismic disturbances.
A world “filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).Another condition that Jesus said would be prevalent just prior to His return would be unrestrained violence:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37).
In Noah’s days, “the earth was corrupt before God, and filled with violence” (Genesis 6:5,11). Today’s headlines are full of tragic stories of senseless violence. The annual homicide and suicide rate in America is now nearly as high as the total loss of American life during the entire Vietnam War. In the past 30 years alone, suicide and murder have claimed the lives of over 1,200,000 Americans, more than all the men killed in all the wars in the history of the U.S.
“This Gospel shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the End come” (Matthew 24:14).Unlike the dramatic rise in wars, famine, plagues and earthquakes, which Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8), He said the preaching of His Gospel to all nations would be a specific sign that would indicate when the actual End would come upon the world.
Never in the course of history has the Gospel been preached in all the world to all nations as it is right now.–If not directly by missionaries, by the modern mediums of radio, television, and telecommunications. According to The Almanac of the Christian World, the Gospel message has now been preached to over 4 billion people, in virtually every country. “Then shall the End come!”
“Many shall run to and fro” (Daniel 12:4).Around 534 B.C., God told His prophet Daniel that in “the time of the end, many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). This phrase, “many running to and fro” literally means “speeding about, here and there,” or as The Living Bible renders it, “travel shall be greatly increased.”
When you consider that people’s means of transportation had not changed substantially for thousands of years, the significance of this prophecy is apparent. Today we not only drive at enormous speeds and cover great distances in automobiles, but a jet can fly around the world in 24 hours, and a spacecraft circles the planet in 80 minutes!
And the number of people traveling today is unprecedented. Economic experts tell us that travel and tourism is now “the biggest and the most energetic industry in the world.”
“Knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).Knowledge has increased in recent years almost beyond imagination! The term “information overload” was coined for our generation.
The equivalent of over 300 million pages of text is now sent over the Internet every day. Eighty percent of all the scientists who have ever lived are alive today, and every minute they add 2,000 pages to man’s scientific knowledge. About half of all medical knowledge is now outdated every ten years.
Computer technology illustrates the knowledge explosion we are undergoing. The computer’s basic building block, the transistor, was invented at Bell Labs in 1948. By the year 2000, one processor chip will contain more than a billion transistors.
“The Antichrist is coming” (1 John 2:18).An important and final sign of the end, which the Bible devotes numerous chapters to, is the rise of a one-world government headed by an evil tyrant known as the Antichrist or “the Beast.” The Book of Revelation says that the whole world will worship Satan in the person of this bestial world leader.
The Bible tells of an ingenious seven-year peace agreement or “covenant” which will be pivotal to the Antichrist’s claim to world leadership. This pact will temporarily resolve the Middle East crisis by working out a compromise between Israel and her Arab neighbours. Jerusalem’s Mount Moriah, where the Jew’s ancient temple once stood and where the Muslim Dome of the Rock stands today, will be a focal point.
Three-and-a-half years after the enactment of the Antichrist’s covenant, he will revoke it. He will then make Jerusalem his international capital, and outlaw all religions except the worship of himself and his mystical image. This image will somehow be empowered to both speak and cause those who refuse to worship it to be killed. (See Revelation 13:14-15.) Jesus said this will be a time of “great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:15, 21).
The “Mark of the Beast”: “He causes all to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. … His number is 666” (Revelation 13:15-18)
This prophecy describes something that has never before been possible. Two thousand years ago a simple fisherman, the Apostle John, predicted that a global economic system would one day arise in which everyone will be forced to receive a number, without which they won’t be able to buy or sell. It is only since the advent of computers and electronic banking that this could happen.
The Second Coming:“Immediately after the tribulation … they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall gather together His chosen” (Matthew 24:29-31).
The World’s darkest hour will abruptly end with the dawning of the brightest day when Jesus Christ returns. All those who belong to Him will be miraculously transformed with new supernatural bodies, and will be rescued from their anti-Christ persecutors and transported to the most spectacular victory celebration ever held, the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” in Heaven! (Revelation 14:14-15; 19:6-9).
At that time the horrific wrath of God will fall upon the Antichrist and his evil followers, culminating with Jesus’ return to earth to utterly defeat and destroy their one-world empire in an awesome confrontation known as the battle of Armageddon.
This will end man’s cruel rule on earth, as Jesus and His superhuman forces take over the world to lovingly rule and reign over it. Thus will begin a period known as the Millennium–a thousand years of peace and plenty and paradise for all. (See Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-4.)
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Are you ready for these earth-shaking events? If not, you can get ready by simply receiving Jesus into your life, & trusting Him in every step of your way. He loves you, and will be with you and guide you through whatever perilous times you may face. God bless you!