MORE Signs of the Last Days
Many things likely come to mind when you think about the end times. You probably envision fire coming from the heavens, chaos erupting globally and life as we know it coming to an end. While these are common associations, several signs will occur before the last days that we should pay attention to. We understand that these are signs of the end times because Jesus tells us so. Here are the final 11 signs of the end of the world.
Signs of Deception
One of the major signs of the end times is deception. The Bible warns us of false prophets who will say they are the Messiah. They will also claim they have answers for all the problems of the world. Jesus gives us very specific warnings that speak to our generation now, referenced in Matthew 24. In this passage, Jesus mentions the false prophets who will use wonders to deceive us. These false prophets can include people in government, elected officials and other leaders. We must guard ourselves and be on the lookout for these deceivers. We are also told in the Bible these aren’t ordinary men. In the last days, many will cry out for leaders, and they will turn to these false prophets who claim to have the answers.
Hunger and Famine
Another significant sign of the end times is famine and hunger. These are some of the biggest issues plaguing our world right now, and many people are trying to figure out if this is a sign we are entering the end times. According to key statistics, 11 percent of the world’s population is hungry. That means 805 million people are undernourished daily. While we are blessed with a large and fertile planet, millions of people are going hungry each day.
Natural Disasters
When natural disasters take place, many people are concerned that they are pointing to the end times. Some of these recent events and disasters include record-breaking heatwaves not only in America and in Europe. People have also cited devastating earthquakes and wildfires that have taken out whole communities. This has come against the backdrop of political tension, which has only left people more fearful.
The Spread of New Diseases
Revelation 6:5-8 warns that our world will be rocked by new diseases and subsequent plagues in the end times. Luke 21:11 also cautions that there will be pestilences in various places and fearful events in the last days. Many people have wondered if the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the new diseases the Bible speaks of. Some believe that the pestilences that Jesus referenced will be fulfilled in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation period that comes after the rapture.
War
We are told in scripture that there will be disputes among nations. Scripture warns us that a big sign of Jesus’ ultimate return is discord and war among groups of people. This is another sign many people are wondering about is occurring right now. The Book of Revelation references a period called the Tribulation. During this period, we are told there will be a great deal of war. This war will appear to have no end. The Bible also tells us that as we enter the end times, including national battles, conflicts at the border and race wars.
Rumors of War
In addition to listing war as a sign of the end times, Jesus also mentions rumors of war. Many people think that Jesus is simply warning us of war in the last days, but Jesus is really instructing us to not allow rumors of war to concern or alarm us because “the end is not yet.” Jesus was doing the same thing when He spoke of false Christs in Matthew 24:5. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:8 that “all these are the beginning of the birth pains.”
Signs in the Heavens
God references numerous heavenly signs that point to the end times. The 6th Seal of Revelation goes into great detail about the signs in the heavens which haven’t been witnesses since creation. One of the biggest passages that reference these signs is Revelation 6:12-14. This passage says, “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. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” While many believe these are signs of despair, they are indeed signs of hope.
Persecution
One of the signs of the end times many people don’t talk about is persecution. During the final days, there will be a rise in the persecution of Christians. We will also see hatred and betrayal increase. In Matthew 24, right before Jesus references the rise of false prophets, He warns the disciples, “Then you will be arrested, persecuted and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other.” This is why we must be disciplined in our prayer lives.
Lawlessness
Jesus prophesied in the final days that there would be lawlessness. Many people think the lawlessness associated with the end times is as simple as people disobeying the 10 Commandments. It goes much deeper than this. Remember, Jesus was a big proponent of God’s law. Not only was His life governed by the law, but He also taught people to obey the law. In Second Thessalonians 2:8-9, Paul uses the word lawless to reference the most powerful false religious teacher in the last days. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus warns us that God will reject those who practice lawlessness.
Jesus
The most significant sign of the end times is Jesus. In Acts 1, the risen Lord spoke his parting instructions to his followers. They asked the Lord, “Is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” While the disciples didn’t fully understand Jesus’ full purpose, they were filled with the hope that He would act victoriously and decisively on their behalf. Jesus’ response serves as a reminder that while we will not be privy to the exact day and moment of Jesus’ ultimate return, we will not be oblivious to the signs that the day is close.
While the world appears to get darker, and we face more spiritual warfare than ever before, we have real hope through Jesus Christ. He defeated death and remained victorious. We can have the same victory when we put our total faith in our Lord and Savior. When we trust in the words of Jesus and the prophets, we can be better prepared for what’s to come.
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: Spirit poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28)
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: Peace taken from the earth
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: False prophets and false Christs
90 Years Ago, Narraganset Church of God Led in Benevolence
Narraganset Church of God was started by a women-preacher with only 10 members. Rev. Amelia Shumaker started the church only 15 days before the Great Depression began in 1929. She became a widow five years prior to moving to Chicago. Passing through the Great Depression by 1934, only five years after its establishment, the Narraganset Church of God was already a leader among the state benevolence ministries.
Located at 2254 N. Narraganset Avenue, the church officially took the name of its location in 1955. Early issues of the Church of God Evangel describe it as a South Side church, later corrected to the only Chicago Church of God. By 1994, the congregation has become one of only three Church of God locations in Chicago Metro. It was also where the first and only Bulgarian Church of God congregation in North America was founded also with only 10 members. (More from this timely research soon…)
Remembering Dr. Oliver McMahan (1954-2024)
On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at the age of 69, Oliver “Dr. Mac” Lewis McMahan died peacefully at his home in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Oliver was born on November 15, 1954 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was the son of Lewis Richard McMahan and Fiavaai “Fia” (Afalava) McMahan. He lived in Hawaii, where his parents were serving as missionaries, until he was ten years old. After leaving Hawaii, the family relocated to California to pastor churches in Salida and Modesto. Following high school, Oliver received a football scholarship to Cal Poly State University. During pre-season training for an upcoming All-Star game, he began to feel a heaviness of spirit and after much prayer, he decided to enroll in West Coast Bible College, instead, where he answered the call to ministry. It was here, also, he met the love of his life, Martha Hatcher. They were married in May of 1975.
Continuing his education, Oliver received his BA from West Coast Bible College in 1975. He then attended the Mennonite Seminary in Fresno for a year while pastoring the Traver Church of God. The following year he transferred to Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, where he earned his M.Div in 1978. In 1984, he received his D.Min also, from Brite Divinity School, TCU. In 1997, he received his Ph.D from Georgia State University.
Dr. McMahan held positions of Associate Professor of Bible and Dean of Students at Northwest Bible College in Minot, North Dakota and Dean and Professor at Jimmy Swaggert Seminary and Bible College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dr. McMahan was honored to serve on the Executive Council of the Church of God International from 1994-1996 and 2006-2010. He served his church in many capacities, with over 25 years as pastor, associate, evangelist and Bible Convention and Camp-meeting speaker. He was also a published author of multiple books; chapters in textbooks for clinicians; and articles in many research publications including the Journal of Psychology and Theology.
At the time of his death, Dr. McMahan was serving as Head Pastor of Cross Pointe Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee and serving as the V.P. for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. He was also providing counseling at Health Management Services in Cleveland.
During these years of education and ministry, Oliver and Martha were blessed with three children. Their first born, Sarah Elizabeth, died at the age of six months. God gifted them with two more children, Jonathan and Holly, to complete their family and now, they have six grandchildren and three great grands (and two on the way). Oliver loved his family whole heartedly and always sought the best for them.
Dr. Mac, as he was affectionately known by many, was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis McMahan and Fia McMahan, his brother, Grady Garna McMahan and his daughter, Sarah Elizabeth McMahan.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Martha McMahan; son, Jonathan Eric McMahan; daughter, Holly Beth (Ben) Salicco and grandchildren Haley (Cory) Houk; Sarah (Lucien) Allison; Olivia McMahan; Sophia Salicco; Josiah Salicco; Emma McMahan; and three great grandchildren, Scarlett Houk, Charlee Houk and Ellijay Allison.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 29th, 2024 from 4- 7pm at Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cleveland, 3000 Ralph Buckner Blvd NE Cleveland, TN 37311.
Dr. McMahan will lie in state at the Dixon Chapel from 10 am- until the service hour at 11:00 am with Dr. Michael Baker officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery 126 White Oak Rd Cleveland, TN 37312.
Condolences may be shared at pfhcleveland.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cleveland.
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: Universal Apostasy
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: Watering down of the gospel
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: Increased worldly knowledge
SIGNS of the LAST DAYS: Increase in the wickedness
