Yeshua forewarned of the alienation and moral sickness that would pervade mankind just before the time of his return: “Because lawlessness (i.e., ἀνομία, from -α (‘not’) + νομος, ‘torah’) will be increased,” he said, “the love of many will grow cold (i.e., ψύχομαι, ‘be extinguished’)” (Matt. 24:12). Note the link between Torah and love: true love requires respect for God’s authority, for without that the divine image is disfigured and desecrated. Likewise the Apostle Paul foresaw that the “End of Days” (אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים) would be a time of peril (καιροὶ χαλεποί) because people would become increasingly narcissistic, self-absorbed, infatuated with their own sense of self-importance, abusive toward others, disrespectful to elders, ungrateful, heartless, unforgiving, without self-control, brutal, treacherous, and so on (2 Tim. 3:1-4). Therefore, in light of the spiritual war that rages all around us, it is vital that we remain firmly rooted in what is real by taking hold of our identity and provision as children of God. “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power (גְּבוּרָה / δύναμις) and of love (ἀγάπη), and of a “sound mind” (σωφρονισμός), i.e., a “delivered” mind — centered and “healed” from inner chaos (2 Tim. 1:7). The name of the LORD (יהוה) means “Presence,” and in Him “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He is as close as our heart and our very breath (Rom. 10:8). We are not to be troubled like the world that lives in terror of man, nor are we to crave security from the vain devices of mere men. No – we must look to God Almighty, the Master of the Universe. He alone is our Refuge and Defense, the One who gives us steadfast love in the midst of these storms. “Let not your heart be troubled” – God is in control of the whirlwind, friends…
According to orthodox Jewish eschatological tradition, the period of time immediately before the Messiah’s arrival is sometimes called ikvot meshicha (עִקְּבוֹת מְשִׁיחַ), the time when the “footsteps of the Messiah” can be heard. Some of the “signs” of this period include the rise of various false prophets, numerous wars and “rumors of wars” (including the rise of Magog: Iran), famines, earthquakes, worldwide apostasy from the faith, persecution, and a globalized sort of godlessness that is revealed in unbridled selfishness, greed, chutzpah (audacity), shamelessness, and a general lack of hakarat ha-tov (gratitude). The greatest sign, however, will be that Israel will exist once again as a sovereign nation, despite the prophesied exile among the nations (Deut. 4:27-31; Jer. 30:1-3).
Hebrew Lesson:
For more on this fascinating subect, see the article “Birthpangs of Messiah.“