What signs precede Christ’s return?
Question 10073
Throughout history, people have looked for signs of Christ’s return. Some have been overly eager, setting dates that came and went. Others have been dismissive, ignoring clear biblical prophecy. But Scripture does provide genuine signs—not so we can predict the exact moment, but so we can recognise the season and remain watchful.
The Distinction Between the Rapture and the Second Coming
Before examining specific signs, we must understand a crucial distinction. Christ’s return occurs in two phases: the rapture of the Church and the second coming to earth. These are separate events with different purposes, different participants, and different signs.
The rapture occurs before the tribulation. Paul writes: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This event is imminent—it could happen at any moment, without warning signs.
The second coming occurs after the tribulation. Jesus said: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30). This event has specific preceding signs.
So when we discuss signs, we must ask: signs of what? The rapture has no preceding signs—it’s the next event on God’s prophetic calendar, imminent and signless. The second coming has many signs, all occurring during the tribulation period.
Signs for the Tribulation Generation
Jesus provided a comprehensive overview of signs in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). His disciples asked: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus responded with specific indicators.
First, false messiahs: “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray” (Matthew 24:5). History has witnessed countless false messiahs, from Simon Magus to Sun Myung Moon. But the tribulation will see an unprecedented explosion of religious deception, culminating in the Antichrist himself claiming to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Second, wars and rumours of wars: “And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7). Wars have always plagued humanity, but the tribulation brings conflict on an unprecedented scale. The seal judgements include war (Revelation 6:3-4), and Armageddon gathers all nations for battle.
Third, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes: “And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:7-8). Notice Jesus calls these “the beginning.” They increase in frequency and intensity, like contractions before childbirth. Revelation’s seal judgements confirm widespread famine (Revelation 6:5-6) and massive earthquakes (Revelation 6:12).
The Abomination of Desolation
Jesus identified one sign as particularly significant: “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).
Daniel prophesied: “And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate” (Daniel 9:27). The Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel at the tribulation’s beginning, allowing temple worship to resume. But at the midpoint—after three and a half years—he breaks the covenant, enters the temple, and declares himself God.
Paul describes this: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
This event marks the great tribulation’s beginning—the final three and a half years of unprecedented suffering. Jesus urged those in Judaea to flee immediately, without delay. The flight is so urgent that “let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak” (Matthew 24:17-18).
Persecution of Believers
Jesus warned: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another” (Matthew 24:9-10). The tribulation brings persecution unlike anything the Church has experienced.
Revelation describes this persecution: “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne” (Revelation 6:9). Later: “Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7). Those who refuse the mark of the beast and remain faithful to Christ face martyrdom.
Yet even in persecution, God provides grace. Jesus promised: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). This isn’t salvation by works; it’s perseverance enabled by faith. Those who genuinely trust Christ will endure despite persecution.
The Gospel Preached to All Nations
Jesus stated: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Before Christ returns, every nation must hear the gospel.
How does this happen during the tribulation? First, through the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. Revelation describes “the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:4). These Jewish believers, supernaturally protected, preach the gospel globally with unprecedented results.
Second, through the two witnesses: “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). These prophets, likely Moses and Elijah, minister in Jerusalem for the first half of the tribulation, performing miracles and calling people to repentance.
Third, through an angel: “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Revelation 14:6). God ensures every person has opportunity to hear and respond.
Cosmic Disturbances
Jesus described astronomical signs: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29). These aren’t metaphors; they’re literal cosmic upheavals.
Joel prophesied: “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes” (Joel 2:31). Peter quoted this at Pentecost (Acts 2:20), but its ultimate fulfilment awaits the tribulation.
Revelation’s sixth seal brings these signs: “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale” (Revelation 6:12-13). These aren’t merely frightening; they signal Christ’s imminent return.
The Sign of the Son of Man
Jesus said: “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). What is this sign? Scripture doesn’t specify, but it’s visible to all humanity and unmistakably announces Christ’s return.
Some suggest the sign is Christ Himself—the Shekinah glory, visible worldwide. Others propose a heavenly display, perhaps the cross appearing in the sky. Whatever its exact nature, it causes universal mourning as unbelievers realise their fate and Israel recognises their Messiah.
Zechariah prophesied: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child” (Zechariah 12:10). Israel’s mourning is both grief and repentance, recognising Jesus as their Messiah.
Signs for the Church Today
If the rapture is signless and imminent, are there no indicators for the Church? While we can’t predict the rapture’s timing, we can observe trends suggesting its nearness.
First, Israel’s regathering. God promised: “Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land” (Ezekiel 37:21). For 1,900 years, this seemed impossible. Yet in 1948, Israel became a nation again. This isn’t necessarily a sign—but it’s a prerequisite for tribulation events.
Second, increasing apostasy. Paul warned: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus asked: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). We see growing apostasy today—churches abandoning biblical truth, embracing relativism, compromising with culture.
Third, increasing knowledge and travel. Daniel prophesied: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). The explosion of knowledge and ease of global travel in recent centuries is unprecedented.
Fourth, moral decline. Paul described the last days: “But understand this, that in the last days there will be times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). This describes our society increasingly accurately.
The Proper Response
How should we respond to these signs? First, with watchfulness. Jesus repeatedly commanded: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). We’re to remain spiritually alert, not lulled into complacency.
Second, with readiness. The parable of the ten virgins warns against unpreparedness (Matthew 25:1-13). We must ensure we genuinely know Christ, not merely claim His name.
Third, with urgency. Paul wrote: “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). Each day brings Christ’s return closer. This should motivate holy living and faithful witness.
Fourth, with hope. These signs aren’t merely frightening; they’re encouraging. Jesus said: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). For believers, these signs herald our deliverance, not our doom.
Conclusion
Christ’s return has specific preceding signs—false messiahs, wars, famines, persecution, cosmic disturbances, and the abomination of desolation. These signs occur during the tribulation and indicate the second coming’s approach. The Church, removed at the rapture, won’t experience these signs directly. Yet observing world trends suggests we’re approaching the season of Christ’s return.
We must avoid two extremes: the date-setting that Jesus explicitly forbade and the careless disregard that ignores His commands to watch. Instead, we live with expectation—working diligently, witnessing boldly, and remaining ready for His appearing. The signs aren’t given to satisfy curiosity but to motivate faithfulness. Christ is coming. The question isn’t whether but when. Are you ready?
“So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:33-35
