10 Signs the End Times Are Near | What the Bible Says About Today

Are we living in the end times? In this episode of Behind the Mike Podcast, Mike Stone counts down 10 clear signs from biblical prophecy that the last days are closer than we think. From wars and rumors of wars to moral decay, persecution of believers, and the rise of false prophets — these signs aren’t meant to scare us, but to prepare us.

👉 What signs of the end times do you see happening right now? Comment below!
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📖 Scriptures referenced: Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3, John 13, Ezekiel 36, Luke 21, Revelation, and more.

This episode is for both Christians and seekers who are wondering about the times we’re living in. Jesus is coming back — are you ready?

#EndTimes #BibleProphecy #ChristianPodcast #SignsOfTheTimes #BehindTheMike #Faith #JesusIsComing

TIME-STAMPED CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Introduction: Are we in the end times?
02:00 – #10: The love of many growing cold
03:30 – #9: Israel as the focal point
05:00 – #8: Signs in the heavens
06:35 – #7: Rise of the Antichrist spirit
08:05 – #6: Persecution of believers
10:15 – #5: The gospel preached worldwide
12:00 – #4: Moral decay in society
13:45 – #3: Earthquakes & natural disasters
16:05 – #2: False prophets & deception
17:30 – #1: Wars & rumors of wars
18:55 – Why these signs matter & final challenge

Transcript

1:44

Hey, welcome back to Behind the Mike Podcast, where we look at the world through a biblical lens faith, truth, and what God's Word says about our times. Well, today we're going to tackle one of the biggest questions that people are asking. Are we living in the end times? I'm counting down the top ten signs. The end times are near, straight from biblical prophecy, and I think you'll be surprised how many are unfolding right before our eyes. But before we jump in, I want to hear from you. Drop a comment below. What signs of the end times are you seeing happening right now? And don't forget to hit like and subscribe so we can keep exploring God's Word together. All right, let's get started. All right. Number ten. The love of many growing cold. Jesus warned in

Matthew 24: 2:42

12, because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. If there's ever been a time when this feels true, it's now. Division and hatred are everywhere. You don't have to look far. Just scroll through social media. People cancel friendships over politics. Families divide over lifestyle choices. Even churches are splitting over issues that used to be unthinkable in the church. Think about it. Our culture often rewards selfishness, pride and anger, compassion and forgiveness. Well, those get mocked as weakness. Here's the challenge for us when the world grows colder, will we reflect it? Or will we shine brighter with God's love? Jesus said

in John 13: 3:31

35, by this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. So I'll ask you, how are you keeping your love alive in these times? What's one way you're refusing to let bitterness take root? Drop it in the comments. Number nine Israel as a focal point. The Bible has always pointed to Israel as the epicenter of prophecy. Ezekiel 36 talks about Israel being restored. Zechariah 12 says Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling for the nations. In 1948, Israel became a nation again after nearly 2000 years, a miracle of history. That alone fulfilled prophecy that many thought was impossible. And since then, Israel has been at the center of world tension. Every headline about the Middle East reminds us the Bible was right. Think about how many times Israel, a nation that's smaller than new Jersey, dominates the news cycle. It's not just politics, it's prophecy. Jerusalem in particular is called the burdensome stone for all nations. The world wants peace, but true peace is just not going to come until the Prince of Peace returns. This sign should remind us that God's Word is true. Down to the detail. And if he kept his promise to bring Israel back, he will also keep his promise about Christ's return. Number eight signs in the heavens.

Luke 21: 5:13

25 says, there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations. Have you noticed how the skies have been getting people's attention lately? Blood moons. Solar eclipses. Meteor showers. Rare planetary alignments. In 2024, a total solar eclipse crossed North America and had millions of people talking about the heavens. Now, I'm not saying every eclipse is a direct sign from God, but Scripture clearly says that he does use the heavens to speak.

Remember in Genesis 1: 5:54

14 the lights in the sky were for signs and seasons, and in Joel two God says, the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. So when the world pauses to stare at the skies, maybe it's a wake up call. God may be asking, are you ready? Have you seen something unusual in the skies lately? Tell me in the comments. All right. Number seven, the rise of the Antichrist spirit.

1 John 34: 6:30

3 says, every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you've heard is coming, and even now is already in the world. Notice John says it's not just about one figure at the end of time, but a spirit that works in culture even now. The spirit is marked by deception and rebellion and rejection of God's truth. Look around. We see a push for global unity without God. Ideologies are mocking God or erasing faith. AI and technology, being viewed as almost saviors of humanity, and countless voices are teaching people to live however they want to live, with no accountability to a creator. Now, this doesn't mean we live in fear, but it does mean we need discernment. Second Thessalonians two warns about strong delusions in the last days. The question is, are we testing everything against Scripture, or are we being swept along with the current of culture? Number six persecution of believers. Jesus warned

in Matthew 24: 7:51

9 then you will be handed over to be prosecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. In North Korea, believers risk their lives just to own a Bible. In parts of the Middle East. Choosing Christ can mean losing your family, your freedom, or your life, even in the West. Hostility toward Christians is growing. You may not be thrown in prison, but you could lose your job, could lose your reputation, or you could lose your platform for standing firm on biblical truth. So here's what today looks like. According to recent data, 365 million Christians worldwide now face high levels of persecution or discrimination. That's equal to one in every seven believers globally and just the top 50 most dangerous countries. 310 million are under very high or extreme threat. Nearly 4500 believers were killed for their faith between October 2023 and September 2024. This includes violence, forced displacement and other attacks. Over 28,000 Christian homes, churches or businesses were targeted for faith related reasons in that same period. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, about 16 million Christians were forcibly displaced due to violence. It's heartbreaking, but not hopeless. Jesus said in

Matthew 5: 9:32

10, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Remember, these are more than stats. They're real lives. Let's continue to stand powerfully with them in prayer, advocacy and action. The persecution of believers is not just a sign of the end. It's a badge of honor in God's eyes. Number five gospel is preached worldwide.

Matthew 24: 10:03

14 gives us one of the most hopeful signs. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come. Think about how fast the gospel is spreading right now. Missionaries have risked everything for centuries, but now technology has multiplied their efforts. The Bible is available in thousands of language. Apps like YouVersion have been downloaded hundreds of millions of times, even in restricted nations. Digital evangelism is breaking through firewalls. Podcasts like this one live streams. Underground churches. It's unstoppable. The gospel is advancing faster than ever in history. So here's what's happening right now. The YouVersion Bible app is installed on over 850 million devices around the world, offering free access to Scripture, 850 million in the early 2025. The app broke its own single day download record in some locations, the surge was staggering 198% increase in Ethiopia, 94% in Egypt, 23% across North Africa. The app offers more than 3000 Bible versions in over 2000 languages, making the word accessible like never before. You know, with numbers like these, we're not just witnessing prophecy were participating in it. The Bible is literally on the move, touching hearts in every corner of the earth. This should encourage us. We're not just observers of prophecy. We can participate. Look, every time you share a video, a Bible verse, or your testimony, you're part of fulfilling God's prophecy. Number four moral decay in society. 2 Timothy

3: 12:08

1-5 describes the last days as perilous times, says people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God. Does that sound familiar? Just look at today's culture from TikTok trends to reality TV. Self-obsession is celebrated. Narcissism is normalized. People redefine morality to fit whatever their desires are. We see crime rising, addictions broken families, and identity confusion. This is the very description that Paul gave to Timothy. But here's the call for us. When the world caves into moral decay, the church must shine as a beacon of truth and holiness. Jesus didn't call us to blend in. He called us to be salt and light. Number three earthquakes and natural disasters.

Luke 21: 13:21

11 says there will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilence in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven. Have you noticed the increase in natural disasters, earthquakes, shaking, unexpected regions, hurricanes more intense than ever before, wildfires devastating entire states? Even global pandemics fall under this prophecy of pestilence. Here's what the current data reveals. The US Geological Survey records about 20,000 earthquakes worldwide per year, which averages to 55 quakes a day. That number reflects better detection, not necessarily more earthquakes. In fact, a seismic expert from a geology focused forum emphasized, and I quote, there's no evidence earthquakes are increasing in frequency or intensity. Global seismic activity has remained relatively stable over the last around 60 years. So on earthquakes, the trend isn't conclusively upward. But what's truly escalating is the frequency and the toll of weather and climate disasters from 2015 to 2024. The U.S. experienced 190 separate billion dollar disasters, which claimed more than 6300 lives. The number of such high cost disasters in the U.S. has tripled since 1980, from an average of nine per year in the 1980s to 23 per year in the latest five years span. But there's a reason to give thanks among the chaos. Despite more frequent, intense events, global disaster related deaths dropped to their lowest levels on record during the first half of 2025 thanks to improved early warning systems, infrastructure and preparedness. So there's that, and science will explain it as climate change or natural cycles. And yes, those play a role. But Jesus framed it as a sign. The earth groaning as his return draws near.

Romans 8: 15:43

22 says, the whole creation has been groaning, as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. It's disasters like a contraction, reminders that something big is coming. Number two false prophets and deceptions.

Matthew 24: 16:01

11 says, many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, while if that's not true, I don't know what is. We're living in a time when spiritual deception is everywhere. False teachers are promising health and wealth, leaving people spiritually bankrupt. New age ideas are sneaking into our churches. Entire denominations are abandoning biblical truth for cultural acceptance. Again on social media. Countless influencers preach a feel good gospel with no repentance, no cross, no Savior. Paul warned

in 2 Timothy 4: 16:45

3 that people would gather teachers to tell them what their itching ears want to hear. This isn't just about pointing fingers, it's about testing everything against God's Word. Are we discerning? Are we protecting our hearts from deception? That's the real question. And finally, number one, wars and rumors of wars. Jesus said in

Matthew 24: 17:12

6, you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Look, wars have always existed, but today it seems like we live with constant tension. We've got Russia and Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, cyber warfare, even whispers of global war. The headlines shift daily, but the fear remains. Just remember Jesus said, don't be alarmed. Why? Because while wars may shake the world, God's kingdom cannot be shaken. And those signs don't mean God has lost control. They mean his plan is unfolding exactly as he said. Well, those were the top ten signs. The end times are near. And as you can see, prophecy isn't something far away. It's happening all around us. These signs aren't meant to scare us. They're meant to prepare us. Jesus is coming back. And the question isn't if it's are you ready? I remember as a kid and in the Baptist church that I grew up in. People were talking about the end times like it was going to happen tomorrow. And, you know, the Bible says we don't know the day, the time or the hour. I remember as a child being afraid of like, all this stuff that's happening around us. I didn't fully understand the concept that this is God's plan to restore his kingdom. I remember listening to, an LP, they're coming back now, an LP album on vinyl. It was a scripted enactment with lots of sound effects and everything that made it very sound very real. Like we were listening to the radio and hearing things happen, like people graves being ripped open and people, getting out of the way of unmanned cars and the rapture had happened. Well, I'm not sure how scriptural all of that was, but I it put it into reality that that Jesus is coming back and we have to be ready. So if this stirred your heart today, don't just scroll past. Pray. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Share this video with someone who needs hope. And let's keep watching. Not in fear, but in faith. Which of these signs hit you the hardest? Tell me in the comments. Hey, I'm Mike Stone. This is behind the Mike podcast. Until next time. Stay rooted in God's word. He's coming soon.