Sign Events and Trends in Gentile Nations
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Jesus gave sign events and trends pertaining to Gentile nations to indicate the generation of His return. Prophetic sign events
happen on a specific date, whereas trends happen over time and usually build in momentum. Jesus connected the timing of His return to
events and trends. When all the events occur and trends accelerate at the same time, we should be alert to Jesus’ return.
B. We will look at 5 sign events and 5 sign trends prophesied in the Scripture, that mark one generation as having the unique
dynamics of the generation in which Jesus returns.
II. SIGN EVENT #1: THE ANTICHRIST WITH WORLD LEADERSHIP: TWO STAGES
A. In God’s end-time plan, the primary political event among the Gentiles occurs when many nations receive the Antichrist as the
premier leader of the earth. There are two stages to his rise to power. First, he will function as a regional political leader in Europe and/or
the Middle East referred to as the little horn (Dan. 7:8, 20-24; 8:9). He will show himself as a man of peace. Second, he will be received as
the premier political leader of the earth.
8 I was considering the [ten] horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them…in this horn, were eyes like…a man,
and a mouth speaking pompous words. (Dan. 7:8)
B. The Antichrist, referred to as the Beast, will possess unusual diplomatic skills that will allow him to establish the most powerful
political coalition with the largest army and the most money of any leader in history. He will have “some authority” and some worshippers in
all nations yet will not totally dominate each nation, especially the ones he is at war with (Dan. 11:40-45).
3 All the world marveled and followed the Beast…4 saying, "Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war with him?"…8 All who dwell on
the earth will worship him… (Rev. 13:3-8)
C. The Antichrist’s primary associate will be the False Prophet who will function as the leader of a global religious network devoted to
causing all nations to worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:8-18).
III. SIGN EVENT #2: THE EUROPEAN, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICAN SUPERSTATE
A. The Bible prophecies of the establishment of a 10-nation superstate based in the same territory that the Roman Empire was based
(Ezek. 38:2-6; Dan. 2:41-44; 7:7, 20, 24-25; 9:26-27; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12, 16). Daniel, Ezekiel, and John prophetically described
this Superstate.
B. Ten nations will give their authority to the Antichrist. This will result in him having the largest political, military, and economic
alliances in history. Therefore, the greatest power base of any leader in history which will also include the largest religious network ever.
The Antichrist and his 10-nation Superstate will exercise a measure of authority over all nations.
7 Authority was given him [Antichrist] over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Rev. 13:7)
C. Various nations currently in Europe, the Middle Eastern and Africa will function under the dominant influence of one leadership
(Antichrist) as much of Europe did under Hitler. This will be the most significant, prophetic, international, and political event in the last 2,000
years.
D. Daniel prophesied of the historical foundation for the Antichrist’s empire, being built upon four successive anti-Semitic empires from
ancient times, referred to as “beast empires” (Dan. 7:1-8).
7 Behold, a fourth beast [Roman Empire], dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong…it had ten horns [ten nation confederation]. 8 I was
considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one [Antichrist], coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns [3
nation coalition] were plucked out [removed] by the roots…20 The ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn [Antichrist] which
came up, before which three fell…23 The fourth beast [revived Roman Empire] shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall…devour the
whole earth…24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. Another [Antichrist] shall rise after them…and shall subdue
three kings. (Dan. 7:7-8 20-24)
E. The beast empires are the four ancient empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. Daniel prophesied of two distinct stages in
the Roman Empire, the ancient empire and a revived Roman Empire in the end times, which will be led by the little horn or the Antichrist
(Dan. 7:23-24) .
F. Ezekiel identifies 8 of the 10 nations (Ezek. 38:2-6) using the ancient names of five nations. Gog is the Antichrist, who will rule from
the land of Magog (European Union?), Meshech and Tubal (Europe/Middle East). Gog is “the rosh” which is Hebrew for “the chief prince”
(Ezek. 38:2, 39:1). The other nations are Persia (Iran), Ethiopia (East Africa), Libya (North Africa), Gomer (area of Ukraine and
western/central Russia?) and Togarmah (eastern Turkey/Armenia?). Ethiopia is modern day Sudan. Scholars have identified Gomer as
originally located north of the Caucasus mountains in the area of the Ukraine, and Togarmah as the area of eastern Turkey.
2 Set your face against Gog [Antichrist], of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal [Europe/Middle East], and
prophesy against him, 3 and say,…"I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh…5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them…6 Gomer
and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops… (Ezek. 38:2-6)
G. We know the identity of the people of the prince to come or the Antichrist because they are the same people or nation who
destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. In other words, the people of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire is the place from which the Antichrist
(prince) will come.
26 The people of the prince (Antichrist) who is to come shall destroy [Jerusalem]… (Dan. 9:26)
H. The most challenging issues facing the 192 member nations in the UN are international in nature. They include global warming, the
war on terror, and the global financial crisis plus famine and disease. The growing crisis in these issues has changed the political
atmosphere making global governance a much more attractive solution. Many see worldwide cooperation under one strong and skillful
leader as the only solution. There is a growing globalization or a deliberate move toward a one-world government i.e., the United Nations
that calls for the political identity of a new World Order with the push to minimize national boundaries and establish one world currency,
military, political process, etc.
IV. SIGN EVENT #3: THE 3 NATION COALITION AND THE DEATH OF THEIR LEADERS
A. A 3-nation coalition of nations will be the original leaders of the 10-nation confederacy.
24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. Another shall rise after them; he [Antichrist] shall be different…and shall
subdue three kings. (Dan. 7:24)
B. The Antichrist will take control of the 10-nation confederacy by killing three of the ten kings (Dan. 7:8, 20, 24). Then the rest of the
kings will immediately accept his authority.
V. SIGN EVENT #4: A ONE-WORLD RELIGION (TWO STAGES)
A. Satan will raise up a worldwide Antichrist worship movement in every nation. He will do this in two stages knowing that it is too big of
a step for those with a religious heritage (Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc.) to suddenly become devoted Satan worshipers. He will first lure
people into joining the harlot Babylon worldwide religion of tolerance that will have no absolutes (Rev. 17). She will be a counterfeit justice
movement that will feed the poor and do humanitarian projects.
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. (Rev. 13:8)
B. Rev. 17:1-6, gives us details about the emergence of the harlot Babylon as a one-world religion, describing her evil seductions and
cruel persecutions. The harlot will sit on many nations (v. 1, 15) or will have authority over the nations. She will deceive the most powerful
leaders on the earth, including the kings of the earth and the great merchants of the earth (Rev. 17:2; 18:23).
1 Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication,
and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication"…4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her
fornication…15 He said to me, "The waters…where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.” (Rev. 17:1-4, 15)
C. Today, many want to bring the three monotheistic religions together (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). They seek to unify liberal
“Christianity” (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) with moderate Islam and Judaism, together with Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age, etc., Since
many military and economic conflicts are linked to religious differences, many are looking for a “religious solution” that will set the stage to
accomplish world peace (1 Thes. 5:3).
D. By joining this harlot religion, their conscience will be greatly defiled. This will make it easy for them to break their affiliation with their
religious heritage (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc).
E. The harlot religion will be replaced by Antichrist worship. The 10 kings who serve closest to the Antichrist will destroy her at the
beginning of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 17:12, 16).
12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings…16 The ten horns…on the Beast will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her
flesh and burn her with fire. (Rev. 17:12, 16)
VI. SIGN EVENT #5: REBUILDING THE CITY OF BABYLON
A. The city of Babylon on the Euphrates River in Iraq (50 miles south of Baghdad) will be rebuilt as a global economic and religious
center for the Antichrist (Isa. 13-14; Jer. 50-51; Rev. 17-18). Babylon is a literal city (Rev. 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21). Just as Jerusalem was
suddenly rebuilt after lying desolate for many years, so Babylon will be suddenly rebuilt after lying desolate.
10 That great city Babylon, that mighty city! In one hour your judgment has come. (Rev. 18:10)
21 With violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. (Rev. 18:21)
B. Jeremiah’s prophecy that judgment would suddenly, completely, and permanently destroy this city with fire, has not yet been
completely fulfilled (Jer. 50:13; 51:8, 64, etc.). The prophecies about Babylon refer to both the ancient city and a modern one. The details
were not completely fulfilled in 539 BC when Babylon gave its power to the Medes and Persians without a fight.
C. Today, there is much interest in the rebuilding of the ancient city of Babylon.
VII. SIGN TREND # 1: MOVEMENT TOWARD A WORLD ECONOMY AND GOVERNMENT
A. There will be a worldwide economic system with government over it. The tension in the financial crisis today is that we have global
financial markets without global rule of law. A worldwide cooperation in economics will be necessary for the legislation seen in Rev. 13:16-
17.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and
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. (Rev. 13:16-17)
B. The mark of the Beast will be a public mark on people’s right hand or forehead. It will be used to regularly identify the people that
commit to worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-17).
C. The mark will be one’s personal access to the global economic system. Those who refuse this mark will not be allowed to buy or sell
the necessities of life. They will be viewed as criminals of the state who are guilty of the death penalty. No one will accidentally take this
mark.
D. Global infrastructures are moving from being a nation-based to having a globally unified expression (Rev 17-18). There will be one-
world technology, economy, trade, communication, religion, and geopolitics, political cooperation, travel, and info.
E. Many today are suggesting a unified global economy. The technology for the mark of the Beast currently exists in the form of
implanted microchips.
F. Microchip technology itself is not evil, but it gives us insight into how the mark could operate. The mark will be far advanced beyond
today’s technology.
VIII. SIGN TREND #2: A DESPERATE CRY FOR WORLD PEACE AND SAFETY
A. The Antichrist will establish a counterfeit peace in Israel and the Middle East that will spread throughout the earth. The Antichrist will
be revealed on the world stage as a man of peace.
3 When they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction [Great Tribulation] comes upon them, as [heavy] labor pains upon a
pregnant woman. They shall not escape. (1 Thes. 5:3)
B. The Antichrist will bring solutions to the international crisis. The Antichrist will establish temporary world peace by making a seven-
year deceitful covenant with many nations. In ancient Israel, they spoke of a week as seven days or seven years (Gen. 29:27-28).
27 He [Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one week [7 years]… (Dan. 9:27)
IX. SIGN TREND #3: THE RISE OF ASIA IN WORLD POWER
A. The rise of Asia: China, Korea, Japan, and India will have world leadership with military forces in the east powerful enough to trouble
the Antichrist’s mighty empire (Dan. 11:44; Rev. 16:12).
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east
might be prepared. 13 I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan], out of the mouth of the Beast
[Antichrist], and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the
earth…to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…16 to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (Rev. 16:12-16)
B. This passage is negative in that the kings of the east will eventually be deceived. It is positive because the Asian leaders will
consistently resist the Antichrist’s seductions and threats through the Tribulation until just weeks before the Antichrist’s destruction. They
will stand fortified.
C. Asia will be the most powerful block of nations on earth besides those under the Antichrist’s authority. The Antichrist will hear
troubling news from the Asian kings who will persistently resist his financial seductions, refuse his demonic miracles, and stand against his
threats.
44 But news from the east [Asia] and the north shall trouble him [Antichrist]… (Dan. 11:44)
D. Asia is rapidly rising to world dominance economically, militarily, and politically. China has the largest standing army on earth. India
now has the third largest army in the world. Many project that within a few decades, 50% of the gross domestic product of the earth will be
produced by China and India. China excels in mass manufacturing and India specializes in software design and services. These two
emerging giants will transform the global economy.
E. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967. The major players in Asia are China, Japan, India,
Russia, and South Korea. Currently, they all desire closer integration together. Large advances towards this integration were taken at the
latest summit in Thailand, in which ASEAN declared its goal to create a free economic zone in Asia called the East Asia Free Trade Area
(EAFTA). They agreed to economic integration by 2015.
X. SIGN TREND #4: REVIVAL AND OPPRESSION IN EGYPT
A. Egypt, as the king of the south, will be temporarily occupied and oppressed by the Antichrist (Dan. 11:41-43).
42 He [Antichrist] shall stretch out his hand against the countries…Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall have power over the treasures of
gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt… (Dan. 11:42-43)
B. The spirit of revival will rest in an unusual way on five cities in Egypt before Jesus returns. This will happen to such a degree that
these cities will swear to follow Jesus. They will be renowned for their dedication and boldness in the face of Islam and the Antichrist’s
oppression (v. 20).
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City
of Destruction [lit. City of the Sun]. (Isa. 19:18)
C. Prayer ministries will be established in Egypt (Isa. 19:19, 22). The grace of prayer, leading to a great revival and deliverance from
the Antichrist, will be released in Egypt before Jesus returns.
20 In the land of Egypt…they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He
will deliver them. 21 Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day…22 The LORD will strike
Egypt…He will be entreated by them and heal them. (Isa. 19:20-22)
XI. SIGN TREND #5: THE RISE OF GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM
A. Anti-Semitism will increase worldwide (Rev. 12:13-17; Joel 3:1-7). We see anti-Semitism growing in intensity and frequency,
particularly in Europe. There will be significant Arab hostility against Israel (Ezek. 35:1-36:7).
B. I believe Jesus prophesied of Islamic terrorism in Jn. 16:2. The initial fulfillment of this occurred at the hands of religious Jews in the
first century. The most dramatic fulfillment will be by Islamic terrorists.
2 The time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. (Jn. 16:2)
C. It is reaching unprecedented levels in terms of the amount of people worldwide being stirred against the Jewish people.
D. Two political factors are Iran’s terrorist president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the leadership of Hamas’ (terrorist) political party in
the Palestinian parliament.
E. Iran’s president has announced that they will use the full degree of violence necessary to reach Islam's goal of winning in their holy
war against the US (big Satan) and Israel (small Satan).
F. Iran provides inspiration, finances, and leadership to Hamas (in Gaza) and to Hezbollah (in Lebanon) including having the support
of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda terrorist organization.