Replies

Sure.

That would work if it wasn't for the fact that so many of the other signs are here. Earthquakes in diverse places, not isolated but in conjunction with all of the other signs, is fulfillment of Scriptural prophecy.

The prophecies in Revelation, which include "stars falling from the sky", are for the Tribulation, which is not yet here. But the fact that all of the signs Jesus gave us that would occur right before His return are happening are indicative of the nearness of the Tribulation.

It's that simple.

Again, you're missing the point. The unprecedented tribulation, the stars falling from the sky, the sun and moon not giving their light are signs of the nearness of the end of the age and his return. Jesus isn't giving signs about the nearness of the tribulation. His message throughout this discourse in Matthew 24 about the end of the world and his return is that a. it's going to happen, b. it's going to happen quickly, c. it's going to go from life as usual (wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, marrying and giving in marriage, believers getting persecuted, etc.) to the end in a sudden irremediable flash that will come upon the people of the earth as suddenly and without warning as the flood in Noah's time.

No, I'm not missing the point.

The events you listed in your reply are signs for what will happen during the Tribulation. After these events, and after Armageddon, Christ will return and set up His kingdom.

In Matthew 24, after being asked by the disciples what the signs of His coming would be, Jesus told them, among many other signs, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.

Then, in Luke 21, after giving the disciples the signs of His return, He says, But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh., speaking of the Rapture.

The fact that those signs are now happening, all at once, tells us that the Tribulation is near.

The fact that all the signs are in place for the Tribulation period, including the announcement a few weeks ago by the new European Union president that global government is established as of November, 2009, tells us that that time is at the door.